Chris Morris Day continues...


Sticking with the BBC's Reality Check correspondent Chris Morris...

I'm reviewing his performances on the BBC News Channel on Christmas Eve and have come to the bits where he responded to the two press conferences announcing the EU/UK deal - the first from the EU, the second from the UK government. 

Both performances absolutely epitomise the BBC's reporting of the two sides over the past four and a half years.

After the EU press conference, the BBC presenter and Chris Morris reviewed what Michel Barnier and Ursula von der Leyen said. 

Words like "interesting", "fact", and "highlighted" were deployed, along with several uses of "said". 

Their remarks were presented without criticism, or countering points, or distancing words. It was all very respectful. 

Then Chris belittled concerns about fishing.

In contrast...

After the UK press conference, the BBC presenter reintroduced Chris Morris with the words, "I want to speak to Chris Morris, who has been sitting with me listening to those news conferences, and listening to Boris Johnson in particular, and was quite keen to just pick up on a few of the things that you heard". 

Guess what happened next? What precisely was it that Chris Morris was "quite keen" to say?

Yes, the BBC's reality checker-in-chief launched straight into 'reality checking' Boris Johnson, picking up on something the UK PM said and disagreed with it. The phrases "ignores the fact" was quickly deployed. 

A long litany of negative points about what Brexit means the UK then followed, plus more "I'm not quite clear where the argument comes" towards positive claims about the post-Brexit future. 

Then came more negative stuff about what we'll be losing regarding access to EU crime databases. 

And then, to conclude, "I think both sides will try as hard as they can to move towards a situation which suits both of them. Obviously, as much cooperation as possible but it won't be quite the same as being inside the tent." 

There's not a doubt in my head that Chris Morris wishes we were still "inside the tent". His entire reporting leaves no room for doubt about that.

Feel free to mention Sherlock, and bears in woods, and the exact faith of popes...

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