'Not everyone hates the Tories as much as you do': Jon Snow hit by accusation of anti-Government bias on Channel 4 News
Veteran newscaster Jon Snow was taken to task for alleged bias against the Government during an interview on Channel 4's Wednesday evening bulletin.
Following reports that Snow had joined anti-Tory chants at the Glastonbury Festival, he was told by a guest on the programme: "Not everyone hates the Tories as much as you do".
Snow, the 69 year-old who has anchored Channel 4's flagship news programme since 1989, found himself at the heart of the story over the weekend after a photograph in which he posed with fellow festival-goers was posted on Twitter.
An accompanying message claimed Mr Snow had shouted “---- the Tories”.
It said: “Boss place that Glasto. Having a dance with Jon Snow and hearing him shout ---- the tories is what dream are made of (sic)."
Snow had earlier issued no denial, merely saying in a statement: “After a day at Glastonbury I can honestly say I have no recollection of what was chanted, sung or who I took over 1,000 selfies with.”
But after the on-air accusation of bias was made by Matthew Kilcoyne, of the Adam Smith Institute think-tank, he replied: "You can say that - but that is actually a very unpleasant thing to have done."
ConservativeHome blogger Mark Wallace was one who enjoyed the exchange:
"Not everyone hates the Tories as much as you" - @MRJKilcoyne discovers @jonsnowC4 can dish it out but can't take it. pic.twitter.com/NNX1emu2qQ
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) June 28, 2017
Poor @jonsnowC4 thinks it "very unpleasant" to mention his bias. It'll be fine if @MRJKilcoyne claims he has "no recollection" of saying it.
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) June 28, 2017
But others were unhappy with Mr Kilcoyne, with one tweeting: "How dare he speak to our Jon like that?"
Another wrote: "Utterly disgraceful what he said to Jon Snow. Well done, Jon, for putting him in his place."
The viewer comments continued.
You wouldn't expect @jonsnowC4 to be quite so sensitive. No one forced him to chant how much he disliked the Tories, did they? https://t.co/VlEdzun9ob
— Leon Spence (@CllrLeonSpence) June 29, 2017