Robert Peston condemned after quizzing Jeremy Hunt over tragic death of baby sister
Robert Peston has defended his decision to ask Jeremy Hunt about his baby sister's fatal accident when he was just two years old.
ITV's political editor tweeted on Thursday: "I have upset many of you by asking about this.
"But it was not a 'gotcha' as you seem to think. I told @Jeremy_Hunt well in advance I had heard of this terrible family event in his life and asked if he would be happy to talk about it.
"He said yes. My view was that it would aid understanding of him if he talked about it.
"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I asked the questions clumsily.
"But I would never have entered such difficult private space without the permission of the interviewee.
"Sorry though to have upset so many of you."
.@Jeremy_Hunt talks for the first time about his baby sister's fatal accident when he was just two years old. #Pestonpic.twitter.com/DqzEfaPHNJ
— Peston (@itvpeston) 26 June 2019
Twitter users were withering in their criticism of the presenter.
I'm absolutely no fan of Jeremy Hunt.
However, #Peston pushing Hunt on the death of his sister when he was 2-years-old is sickening & wrong.
Attack his record yes, but leave his dead sibling out of it. @Peston pushing it as an exclusive too. 🤮pic.twitter.com/PEdIQ4zjak— Alex Tiffin (@RespectIsVital) 26 June 2019
It ain't no secret I'm not a fan of the Tories but bringing up Hunt's deceased baby sister is an absolute low for journalism. Peston: "theres an area of your life I wasn't aware of" - yes, because it's none of your fucking business!! Jesus wept. https://t.co/i9M0PxkDjl
— 🌹ɖàռìɛʟ ʊì ռèɨʟʟ🌹 (@HomoSocialist) 26 June 2019
"Good lord, what the f*** made you ask him that?" https://t.co/NwT2cxgPSA
— HuffPost UK Politics (@HuffPostUKPol) 27 June 2019
I won't share the clip, I won't even comment into its thread. Know one thing I have no time for Hunt politically at all but Peston crossed the line on an absolutely disgraceful level, should be ashamed and should publicly apologise. There is no room for that in political debate.
— Dan O'Connell (@dan_o_1989) 26 June 2019
NO, this should read: Jeremy Hunt is pressed and pressed again to talk for the first time about his baby sister's fatal accident when he was just 2 years old.
Shocking from you Mr Peston. Despicable in fact. Delete this tweet.
A @UKLabour member/supporter— Gayle Letherby 🌹#GTTO #JC4PM2019 (@gletherby) 27 June 2019
