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A debate between the BBC\u2019s Andrew Neil and left-wing journalist Owen Jones descended into chaos on Thursday, after the Guardian writer accused the presenter\u2019s Spectator magazine of defending neo-Nazis and fomenting Islamophobia.<\/p>\n
Jones had made a video for the BBC\u2019s This Week programme, a late night political chat show hosted by Neil, about the rise of the far-right in Britain and was invited to talk about the issue.<\/p>\n
The feud erupted between the pair after the left-wing activist accused the mainstream media of fueling Islamophobia. Jones claimed that the Spectator magazine, the right-wing weekly publication, and which Neil is chairman of, is the \u201cclassic example\u201d<\/em> of a media outlet of inciting Islamophobia in society.<\/p>\n The BBC\u2019s flagship political presenter reacted angrily to Jones\u2019 assertion, accusing him of \u201csmears and lies,\u201d<\/em> and insisting he would not allow the left-wing journalist to \u201chijack\u201d<\/em> his program. Unperturbed, Jones ploughed on, much to the annoyance of Neil, who claimed it was not fair on the BBC to become embroiled in a subject that had nothing to do with them.<\/p>\n Jones told Neil: \u201cThat [Spectator] magazine has defended Greek neo-nazis;\u201d<\/em> a claim vehemently denied by the presenter.<\/p>\n A visibly-riled Neil soon ended proceedings with Jones, preventing him from asking anymore questions on the issue, insisting that \u201ctonight was not the night to deal with your lies and smears about me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The spat has provoked much reaction on social media, with many voicing their support for Jones, even from some unlikely quarters such as Tony Blair\u2019s former spokesman and \u201cspin doctor,\u201d<\/em> Alastair Campbell.<\/p>\n Have had my run-ins with @OwenJones84<\/a> but entirely fair to bring up role of right wing media in debate re right wing extremism and @afneil<\/a> too defensive about it. Could have let him make point, answered it, and moved on https:\/\/t.co\/6QbNT8liQ6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Alastair PEOPLE\u2019S VOTE Campbell (@campbellclaret) January 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Wow Andrew Neil, of hard-right Spectator, which vomits out racist bile like a pompous British Brietbart, absolutely lost his shit at real journalist @OwenJones84<\/a> for asking him questions in a discussion of the far-right<\/p>\n A raw nerve there#bbctw<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/Gop4Nw8KSh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) January 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n However, there were those who backed Neil. Well-known British entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, one of the stars of TV\u2019s \u2018Dragons Den,\u2019 accused the journalist of indulging in a \u201cpetulant outburst\u201d<\/em> and smearing Neil.<\/p>\n The Spectator magazine has caused controversy over the years. Last year it published an article titled: \u2018In praise of the Wehrmacht.\u2019 The Wehrmacht were the Nazi armed forces in Germany from 1935-1946. The headline was subsequently changed to ‘The truth about D-Day.’<\/p>\n In 2001, a former writer at the magazine, Conrad Black, accused former colleague \u2018Taki\u2019 Theodoracopulos, of uttering \u201ca blood libel on the Jewish people wherever they may be,\u201d<\/em> in an article where he \u201cexpressed hatred for Israel and a contempt for the United States.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Taki has also written in support of ultra-nationalist Greek political party Golden Dawn, referred to by Owen Jones, which has been accused of being a neo-Nazi organization, according to the Huffington Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
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\n ‘In praise of the Wehrmacht\u2019 – Twitter outrage at sneaky Spectator Nazi army headline swap<\/span>
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