BBC BREAKFAST presenter Naga Munchetty has been handed a warning about her impartiality following a bizarre row over the Union Flag.
The morning TV star, 46, liked a series of anti-Tory tweets hours after her co-presenter Charlie Stayt made odd comments about a national banner draped in the corner of an office behind Housing Minister Robert Jenrick.
After a brief interview discussing the vaccine roll out the telly presenter, 58, said: “I think your flag is not up to standard size, government interview measurements.
“I think it’s just a little bit small, but that’s your department really.”
Naga could be heard laughing as he made the comments, while the Minister grimaced.
She later ‘liked’ a series of tweets, which said: “the flag sh*ggers will be up in arms” and this “should be done every time the Tories roll out one of their talking head ministers.”
After the exchange, ConservativeHome’s Mark Wallace tweeted: “What a bizarre thing for the BBC to sneer and snigger at.
“What's wrong with ministers of the British government having the flag and the monarch on display?”
And Minister James Cleverly also tweeted: “It's not a small flag. It's in the far corner of the room.”
RED FLAG
Last night Mr Jenrick tweeted: "We’re always proud to fly the Union Flag at @mhclg [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt].
"It’s a symbol of liberty and freedom that binds the whole country together."
Former BBC political attack dog Andrew Neil added: “Sometimes the BBC forgets what the first B stands for.”
Last night, Naga apologised and in a tweet she said: “I 'liked' tweets today that were offensive in nature about the use of the British flag as a backdrop in a government interview this morning.
“I have since removed these 'likes'.This does not represent the views of me or the BBC.
"I apologise for any offence taken.”
BBC rules state that news workers have to adhere to a strict online code of conduct which states: “Nothing should appear on your personal social media accounts that undermine the perception of the BBC’s integrity or impartiality.”
A BBC source told The Sun: “Naga has been reminded of her responsibilities in relation to her liking some tweets about the comment."
A spokesperson for the Beeb said: “It was a light-hearted, off the cuff comment. No offence was intended.”
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