Cathy Newman has been criticised for her “aggressive” and "biased" grilling of Jeremy Corbyn over reports he had links with people with who hold anti-Semitic views and Holocaust deniers.
The Channel 4 journalist interviewed the Labour leadership hopeful in an alleyway about his connections with Deir Yassin Remembered, a group founded by self-declared Holocaust denier Paul Eisen, and the cleric Raed Salah, who was convicted of racist incitement for repeating the medieval blood libel that Jews use children's blood to bake bread.
Corbyn denied her repeated suggestion that he had made “misjudgements” by attending events by Deir Yassin Remembered and describing Salah as an “honoured citizen” some years ago, accusing Newman of putting words in his mouth.
“Any form of racism is wrong, the need to talk to people to bring about a peace process is absolutely right," he said.
He insisted that Eisen was not a Holocaust denier when he met him 15 years ago, telling Newman: "Had he been a Holocaust denier, I would have had absolutely nothing to do with him. I was moved by the plight of people who had lost their village in Deir Yassin.”
Corbyn said he was unaware Salah had been convicted of racial incitement when he met him. The interview, which was broadcast on Monday evening, quickly sparked a backlash against Newman, with many accusing her of trying to smear him.
@cathynewman really awful to watch @Channel4News try and smear #VoteCorbyn tonight. I will not watch your channel again
; Katy Close (@KatyKatyclose) August 17, 2015
@jeremyforlabour @cathynewman I never said what she's entitled to do but putting words in his mouth was wrong, he wasn't angry
; james cluskey (@jaycluskey99) August 18, 2015
I'm referring to Channel 4's idiotic tabloid coverage of Corbyn just now. We get it, you don't like him, Cathy Newman.
; ZOË HOWE (@zoehowe) August 17, 2015
Cathy Newman (who lied about being "ushered" of a mosque) pretty aggressive against Corbyn on C4 News just now, but he handled it very well
; Asa Winstanley (@AsaWinstanley) August 17, 2015
@andrewspoooner @cathynewman What about his policies? Why doesn't Newman question Tory MPs like this. He's answered these smears before.
; Mountain Boy (@sharpeleven) August 17, 2015
@cathynewman an appalling interview with @jeremycorbyn -he has explained himself,stop trying to put words in his mouth /manipulating #c4news
; Emma Wallace (@EmmaJaneWallace) August 17, 2015
I'd rather hear from Jeremy talk than hear Cathy Newman talking all over him; she questions him on his judgment but what about hers? #c4news
; Panopticon (@Panopticon6) August 17, 2015
Newman said she had been "deluged“ with tweets overnight calling for her dismissal just 24 hours after returning from a holiday. Addressing criticism that the interview had taken place in front of the press, she write on Twitter: "Interviewing in alleyway in scrum of cameras 7 mins before air not ideal for me or @Corbyn4Leader".
. @allymaxbruce @krishgm @afneil repetition sometimes required to get clarity, that's all...no baiting, simple questioning
; Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) August 18, 2015
@cathynewman @allymaxbruce @krishgm @afneil If it was repetition, it seemed to have a slight aggressive edge?
; athinkingman (@athinkingman) August 18, 2015
. @LeighEvans2 I do. Ask @George_Osborne a few weeks a go...
; Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) August 18, 2015
She also claimed Corbyn took her to one side for “stern words” after their exchange which was interrupted by the press pack, describing him as “virtually shaking with rage”.
A number of people also criticised her claim that Corbyn was angry, instead describing his responses as firm, calm and articulate.
@TheShanTiger @jeremycorbyn he was virtually shaking with rage when he took me aside afterwards
; Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) August 18, 2015
. @Barlowfarlow @Corbyn4Leader he was plenty angry. After cameras stopped he took me aside for stern words - interrupted by press pack
; Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) August 18, 2015
. @OwenJones84 yes it absolutely was - on camera and off
; Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) August 18, 2015
He doesn't look particularly angry. Fair questions, well answered. https://t.co/vmdqx75vnM
; Jack Seale (@jackseale) August 18, 2015
@OwenJones84 @cathynewman I watched your interview on c4news, I did not see anger from him at all Kathy.!
; sonja (@bluebell2009) August 18, 2015
