15 astonished reactions to Laura Kuenssberg’s updates on the concerned NHS dad

9.

Update: The parent of the sick child has been exposed as a Labour activist, so Boris Johnson is right, the press were not there after all.

— Tom Peck (@tompeck) September 18, 2019

10.

Dear UK journalists,
Rule number 1 of investigative journalism:
Always punch up – not down.
PS. In case you're confused – attacking fathers of sick babies complaining to a PM about NHS delays almost killing your child, is punching down, not up.
Regards,
Tom#sacklaurakuenssberg

— Tom Pride (@ThomasPride) September 18, 2019

11.

I’ve been sitting back watching this happen with ever increasing horror.

Who cares if he’s a Labour activist.

He’s a dad first. https://t.co/jBCfQM1CMF

— Emma Kennedy (@EmmaKennedy) September 18, 2019

12.

If your response to the Prime Minister being caught in a blatant lie on cameras that he denies are even there is: A LABOUR VOTER MADE HIM DO IT, you need to go lie down in a dark fucking room.

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) September 18, 2019

13.

I feel sick to my stomach at Laura Kuenssberg outing that man in hospital to 1 million followers. He has a sick child who is 7 days old. How depressing to make him a target of online pile-on for daring to speak his mind to the Prime Minister. "Here he is." Jesus Christ.

— Laura Waddell (@lauraewaddell) September 18, 2019

14.

In all seriousness I can't think of anything more intensely nightmarish than tending to my sick newborn in the hospital while simultaneously being doxxed by the political editor of the BBC.

— Tom Whyman (@HealthUntoDeath) September 18, 2019

15.

I wish the BBC could identify Conservative councillors in the #BBCQT audience half as fast as they do Labour activists with poorly children.

— Simone (@cee4cat) September 18, 2019

Actor Stephen McGann also wondered why Laura Kuenssberg hadn’t tried some sort of damage limitation.

At very very least, any self-respecting journalist would surely pull down that dogpiling tweet. Whatever their motive was for posting, it is clearly serving no journalistic purpose, and antagonising large sections of the public. Becoming the story, not telling it. Surely?

— Stephen McGann (@StephenMcGann) September 18, 2019

The BBC’s PR department posted a statement.

BBC statement about Laura Kuenssberg pic.twitter.com/qzO9eZMMOj

— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) September 18, 2019

But we particularly appreciated Omar Salem’s response to a similar attack from right-wing dog-whistler, Guido Fawkes.

Quelle surprise. People will be shocked. You couldn’t tell from my @Twitter profile. My Labour values are WHY I back proper support for the NHS. I am not ashamed of them. https://t.co/DZMqOprMML

— Omar Salem (@OmarSalem) September 18, 2019

Source: Twitter, BBC Images: Twitter, Guardian, BBC screengrabs

Read more: This dad’s takedown of Boris Johnson – and the PM’s foot in mouth response – is extraordinary