Le Pen was interviewed by Andrew Marr but the journalist and his bosses came under fire for giving air time to a far right leader on a day when Britain was remembering those who died in the world wars.
Marine Le Pen speaking on #Marr Remembrance Sunday? Why not interview our veterans who fought fascists&lost so many comrades?So wrong BBC!
— Angela Rayner MP (@AngelaRayner) November 12, 2016
Andrew Marr recorded a video defending his decision to interview Le Pen who “under certain circumstances could become the next president of France.”
In it Marr said: “In the end we are a news organisation and I don't think the best way to honour the fallen is to fail to report on the next big challenge to western security.”
.@AndrewMarr9: Why I interviewed Marine Le Pen #marr https://t.co/cplBTZCHa8
— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) November 13, 2016
And the programme’s editor Rob Burley took to the battleground of Twitter, where the corporation had come under fire, to explain why it was important to interview Le Pen.
1)Marine Le Pen is a controversial booking. But she is a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views. . .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
2) Her party's support – 6m in 2015 elections, 6m in the last Presidential Election and her ratings ahead of 2017 election significant. .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
3) In French politics she is “normalised” by public support. We either treat her seriously or censor her.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
5) Unless a politician is irrelevant (i.e no support or representation) or expresses views that are illegal. . . .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
6) It is our job to hold them to account and allow viewers to understand what they think. Our views about them are irrelevant.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
In the interview Le Pen said: “Clearly, Donald Trump's victory is an additional stone in the building of a new world, destined to replace the old one.”
Le Pen is regularly interviewed on French TV, which has to adhere to strict rules about the amount of air time given to each political party.
Following Donald Trump's victory last week she was given a prime time slot on French TV, where she expressed her delight at the outcome of the US presidential election.
So how should the media treat the nationalist leader Marine Le Pen?
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