BBC backs its political editor Laura Kuenssberg and says she did NOT tweet 'in defence' of Dominic Cummings after a 'significant' number of complaints

• Kuenssberg had responded to Daily Mirror's political editor Pippa Crerar
• Mirror had first revealed his 260-mile trip from London to County Durham 
• Critics claimed Kuenssberg was effectively defending PM's chief adviser
• But BBC has insited she was 'simply reporting information from a source'
• It comes as Newsnight's Emily Maitlis accused Boris Johnson of 'blind loyalty'

The BBC today defended its political editor Laura Kuenssberg after she was accused of tweeting 'in defence' of Dominic Cummings amid the row over his lockdown trip. 

Kuenssberg had responded directly to Daily Mirror political editor Pippa Crerar who first revealed his 260-mile journey from London to County Durham with his family.

Critics claimed her tweet was effectively a rebuttal on behalf of the Prime Minister's chief adviser, and the BBC said it received a 'significant' number of complaints.

Kuenssberg, 43, had tweeted last Friday: 'Source says his trip was within guidelines as Cummings went to stay with his parents so they could help with childcare while he and his wife were ill – they insist no breach of lockdown.'

The issue over whether Mr Cummings broke any coronavirus lockdown rules has been the subject of fierce debate in recent days, with him denying any wrongdoing.

However in an adjudication following the undisclosed number of complaints, the BBC has said that Kuenssberg made it clear she was reporting details from a source.

'Laura was simply reporting information from a source': The BBC's full adjudication 

As the BBC's Political Editor, Laura Kuenssberg's role is to provide our audiences with an impartial analysis of key political developments, based on her knowledge and expert judgment, and she often uses social media as a tool in her day to day work.

We don't consider that Laura was tweeting in defence of Dominic Cummings. Laura was simply reporting information from a source, and we believe this was clearly stated in her tweet. A key part of Laura's job is to reflect views from many different parties in any given news story, which she did throughout her reporting and in her Twitter posts, during Friday evening and the rest of the weekend. This was clearly a big news story that was unfolding quickly, and we believe Laura reflected a lot of different views, whilst also establishing the facts and accurately reporting the many details of the story.

BBC staff are always reminded never to present their own personal views on social media, within the fields in which they work. We're happy that this wasn't the case with Laura here.

The BBC said: 'As the BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg's role is to provide our audiences with an impartial analysis of key political developments, based on her knowledge and expert judgment, and she often uses social media as a tool in her day to day work.

'We don't consider that Laura was tweeting in defence of Dominic Cummings. Laura was simply reporting information from a source, and we believe this was clearly stated in her tweet.

'A key part of Laura's job is to reflect views from many different parties in any given news story, which she did throughout her reporting and in her Twitter posts, during Friday evening and the rest of the weekend.

'This was clearly a big news story that was unfolding quickly, and we believe Laura reflected a lot of different views, whilst also establishing the facts and accurately reporting the many details of the story.'

It added: 'BBC staff are always reminded never to present their own personal views on social media, within the fields in which they work. We're happy that this wasn't the case with Laura here.'

Mr Cummings has stood by his actions in making a 260-mile trip to Durham during lockdown with his family.

Mr Cummings says he made the journey from London not only over fears of a lack of childcare if he became incapacitated with Covid-19 but also concerns about his family's safety.

The adjudication comes as BBC viewers called for an Ofcom investigation after Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis last night accused Boris Johnson of 'blind loyalty' to Mr Cummings. 

The host was accused of breaking BBC impartiality rules after she also stated as fact that the Prime Minister's adviser 'broke the rules' by taking the trip in March.

Last December, the BBC's Huw Edwards attacked the 'relentlessly vitriolic' criticism of the corporation after Jeremy Corbyn's allies blamed it for Labour's election defeat.

Mr Edwards, who hosted the BBC's election coverage, hit out at 'appalling levels' of 'toxic cynicism'. It came after Labour's transport spokesman Andy McDonald said the Corporation had 'consciously' played a role in the party's defeat.

Kuenssberg was criticised during the election after incorrectly tweeting a Labour activist punched an adviser to Health Secretary Matt Hancock at a hospital.

Actor Mathew Horne, the star of BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey, was forced to apologise after using Twitter to call Kuenssberg a 'disingenuous plopcarpet'.