Thread by @philipcball

I'm gonna reiterate my deep concerns about this. Yes, of course it's a relief to see it, and to see Fiona Bruce admit the "error" on last night's @bbcquestiontime. BUT:
- it took huge pressure, including probably legal pressure from @shahmiruk, to bring it about. (1/n)

https://twitter.com/BBCNewsPR/status/1192502797205483521

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk - it was preceded by an attempt to fob complainants off with a response that made no sense.
- it shows that the @BBCNewsPR must have known all along about these errors (my complaint highlighted them, and so did others). (2/n)

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk @BBCNewsPR I'm afraid I just don't buy the "misheard" line any more. I have never, ever previously seen a question from the audience mangled and erroneously dismissed because it "wasn't heard" properly. This is a debate show - is the studio really too "noisy" for the debate to be heard? 3/n

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk @BBCNewsPR Even if "Vote Leave" was misheard as "Leave. EU", Bruce's response was wrong. And why would the questioner mention the latter anyway if the concern was about the probity of government ministers? 4/n

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk @BBCNewsPR So it just doesn't add up. I'm doing my damnedest not to go for the "BBC is biased" line, and some parts of its political programming do a good job. But this reeks of more than error and incompetence. 5/n

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk @BBCNewsPR And here's the worry. We now know that the government & Tory party is happy to fight an election by openly lying and producing fake news and doctored videos. The BBC News is going to have to be absolutely at the top of its game to cope. 6/n

@bbcquestiontime @shahmiruk @BBCNewsPR But this episode can't but lead us to fear just the opposite. (And I hope it goes without saying that if ANY party indulges in the same lies and fakery, I want them treated the same way.) 7/7