Piers Morgan says Emily Maitlis has been 'thrown to the wolves'

Piers Morgan has again backed Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, insisting she was ‘thrown to the wolves’ after BBC said her comments on Dominic Cummings ‘did not meet’ its standards of impartiality.

In a later statement on Thursday, the broadcaster added amid its censure that it was bound to speak if it ‘overstepped the mark’ in its coverage.

The Good Morning Britain presenter had previously backed the journalist, alongside the likes of Stacey Dooley and Susanna Reid, after she took Wednesday night off presenting following criticism from viewers.

People accused the seasoned host of ‘editorialising’ a monologue on senior government aide Cummings, in which she accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Number 10 of ‘blind loyalty’ to Cummings in the ongoing row over the aide’s lockdown trip to County Durham.

Now Morgan has come out swinging once more, as he shared a message on Thursday, saying the BBC’s move was ‘pathetic’.

He wrote: ‘If you want to see what real ‘overstepping the mark’ is, I suggest you tune into @GMB on Monday.

‘Emily told the truth & it’s pathetic of the BBC to throw her to the wolves like this.

‘Fortunately my ITV bosses are made of tougher stuff.’

The BBC issued a further statement on Thursday, saying ‘our editorial guidelines allow us to make professional judgments but not to express opinion’.

It added: ‘The dividing line can be fine, but we aim to say so if we think we have overstepped the mark.’

The introduction presented the issue ‘as if the country was unanimous in its view’ and gave the perception ‘that the BBC was taking sides’, the statement said.

The BBC added that it is not ‘a question of apportioning blame to anyone’ and reiterated Maitlis’ claim that it was her decision to not appear on the show.

Following the news that Maitlis would not be presenting Wednesday’s episode, Morgan joined in a chorus who backed the Newsnight host.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘So, Lord Hall said nothing as the Govt banned ministers from @BBCNewsnight for months, but humiliates @maitlis for speaking the truth about lying Cummings? This is why I’d never work for the BBC – great journalists, cowardly weasel management.’

Stacey Dooley added: ‘Emily has been reprimanded. And Dominic Cummings hasn’t.’

Responding to the news that Emily won’t be hosting Newsnight, Susanna Reid added: ‘Not ok to do this to @maitlis.’

Fellow Newsnight presenter Katie Razzall clarified on Twitter: ‘Just for the record, Emily @maitlis has not been asked by the BBC to take tonight off – and if I thought she had been, I certainly wouldn’t have agreed to present the show @BBCNewsnight.’

Maitlis returned to social media on Thursday morning to thank everyone for their ‘overwhelming’ support following the fallout.

She wrote on Twitter: ‘Been overwhelmed by all the kindness, messages – and support on here – and I’ve probably missed much of it.

‘A big thank you from us all at #newsnight.’