Yahoo News Conservative MP criticises Laura Kuenssberg for not congratulating Boris Johnson on birth of baby
A Conservative MP has hit out at two prominent journalists for not congratulating Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on the arrival of their baby.
Maria Caulfield, the MP for Lewes, posted screenshots of tweets reporting the birth by the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg and Sky News political editor Beth Rigby.
She implied they should have added a remark congratulating the prime minister and Symonds.
Her tweet attracted some ridicule, with Twitter users pointing out the journalists were simply reporting the fact.
I think the word Laura and Beth are looking for is “congratulations” 🙄 pic.twitter.com/jpVbwD1xQA
— Maria Caulfield MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@mariacaulfield) April 29, 2020
Rigby replied to say her sentiments on the birth were obvious.
This is called reporting the news.
It goes without saying that I’m delighted Carrie Symonds and PM have had a healthy baby boy https://t.co/TxHynRH8Mb— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) April 29, 2020
The arrival of Symonds’ and Johnson’s baby was announced on Wednesday morning and comes shortly after the prime minister recovered from coronavirus symptoms, which forced him into intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Symonds – who is engaged to Johnson – also displayed coronavirus symptoms during her pregnancy.
Caulfield’s tweet was liked by fellow Tory Nadine Dorries, who has been critical of the way the BBC has covered the coronavirus crisis.
She claimed that the daily government press briefings – which include questions from reporters and now the public – showed journalists at their “very left leaning, gotcha worst”.
The nation tuned into daily press briefings and saw journalists at their very left leaning, gotcha worst. They failed to adapt and behave appropriately in a crisis. Regarded it as a political event to trip up the gov trying to keep people safe. Big mistake. https://t.co/I062eYko4g
— Nadine Dorries 🇬🇧 (@NadineDorries) April 24, 2020
Earlier a Labour MP suggested the birth of Boris Johnson’s baby was an “excuse” to miss Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
In a now-deleted tweet, Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury wrote following the birth: “It appears Boris Johnson has just found yet another excuse to miss PMQs.”
The post was removed after an immediate backlash, with Cadbury then writing eight minutes later:
So Boris Johnson has a good excuse to miss #PMQs today - congratulations!
— Ruth Cadbury MP (@RuthCadbury) April 29, 2020
Johnson returned to work on Monday, three weeks to the day since he was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus symptoms.
He later admitted he came close to death, saying NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital “saved my life – no question”.
Johnson spent the next two weeks recovering at Chequers, the PM’s official country residence.
Yahoo News UK has asked Cadbury for comment.
