AL
So no government minister will turn around and say “well Kay you didn’t follow the rules” because that’s irrelevant to the point. The issues moved onto whatever the next discussion is. If anyone did say that to Kay, it would be a weak defence, because as the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right. It’s almost like saying an overweight newsreader couldn’t question a minister on obesity policy.
Don’t get me wrong, I think viewers - me included - will laugh next time she has to talk about lockdown restrictions on air, let alone interview someone about it. But I just don’t think it’ll be a huge impact on her ability to challenge others. Viewers may be less forgiving to her, but others will probably have done worse breaches in lockdown!
If there was another Cummings-like incident and Kay had to interview a Government minister in relation to it, her position as a journalist would be weakened and made less credible as a result of this saga. The interviewee would be entirely justified to bring up her flouting of the rules, which is why Sky is now in a difficult position; bring her back in January and risk the inevitable awkward interviews, or let her go. It's not an easy decision and, personally, I don't think anyone should lose their job for breaking Covid-restrictions (bearing in mind how ridiculous some of them are, especially those that surround hospitality), but when you hold people to account as much as Kay does, you have to maintain credibility.
So no government minister will turn around and say “well Kay you didn’t follow the rules” because that’s irrelevant to the point. The issues moved onto whatever the next discussion is. If anyone did say that to Kay, it would be a weak defence, because as the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right. It’s almost like saying an overweight newsreader couldn’t question a minister on obesity policy.
Don’t get me wrong, I think viewers - me included - will laugh next time she has to talk about lockdown restrictions on air, let alone interview someone about it. But I just don’t think it’ll be a huge impact on her ability to challenge others. Viewers may be less forgiving to her, but others will probably have done worse breaches in lockdown!
If there was another Cummings-like incident and Kay had to interview a Government minister in relation to it, her position as a journalist would be weakened and made less credible as a result of this saga. The interviewee would be entirely justified to bring up her flouting of the rules, which is why Sky is now in a difficult position; bring her back in January and risk the inevitable awkward interviews, or let her go. It's not an easy decision and, personally, I don't think anyone should lose their job for breaking Covid-restrictions (bearing in mind how ridiculous some of them are, especially those that surround hospitality), but when you hold people to account as much as Kay does, you have to maintain credibility.