Boris Johnson’s excuse for ducking his Andrew Neil interview is being destroyed with facts

John Plunkett. Updated December 6th, 2019

So it looks like Boris Johnson will be the only major party leader not to be interviewed by Andrew Neil on BBC1, which simultaneously manages to be both not surprising and totally shocking.

He hasn’t said it himself, of course, neither has anyone prepared to be identified as a Conservative party spokesman. It’s all about the source, right?

Johnson confirms he is rejecting Neil interview

Senior Con source: “The public are fed up with interviews that are all about the interviewer and endless interruptions. The format is tired and broken and needs to change if it is to start engaging and informing the public again.”

— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) December 6, 2019

And there was no shortage of very well-informed people to destroy this excuse with facts. Beginning with Andrew Neil himself.

Well, Corbyn interview got 3.2m viewers. So not that "tired".
The Tories posted it on Facebook. So not "tired" at all.
"Tired" never raised when trying to fix time and date.
This "source" is a "pyramid of piffle"
PS to source: monologue got 4m+ views. So some voter interest. https://t.co/c8NQqZKJgr

— Andrew Neil (@afneil) December 6, 2019

An unlawful prorogation of Parliament

No liaison committee

Almost no PMQs

A thin manifesto

A refusal to do a set piece election interview

Voters may wonder, why is this prime minister so afraid of answering questions? His opponents will ask, what is he trying to hide? https://t.co/QzMt5fHFD8

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) December 6, 2019

There is no evidence at all that the public are fed up with politicians being properly questioned. Public service broadcasting is there for a reason. https://t.co/2p9V4p4WbN

— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) December 6, 2019

Because asking a politician questions which they have to answer is a tired and broken format the public are fed up with. They prefer selfies with Philip and Holly, shots of the politician mopping or eating a scone, and constant, constant lies. https://t.co/cEBUwuvIle

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 6, 2019

Is now a good time to point out that the ‘fed up’ public have watched the @afneil video over 4 million times since last night? https://t.co/GqYGNvrvfR

— Alexis Conran (@alexisconran) December 6, 2019

Amazing. The prime minister wants unbroken formats where he is listened to in reverential silence https://t.co/kUk5Uy1Mov

— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) December 6, 2019

From now on the Government will decide what ‘the people’ are interested in. https://t.co/to5ro3XIFX

— Jessica Simor QC (@JMPSimor) December 6, 2019

2.3m watched @afneil interview @Nigel_Farage on BBC1 last night along with this moment at the end of the show. The clip has so far reached 4.5m views. That's a lot of views. https://t.co/yln6tXx18q

— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) December 6, 2019

The public is not fed up of interviews. It's fed up of being lied to. Boris Johnson ducking out of the leaders' interviews is truly pathetic. He is breaking the public's trust yet again. https://t.co/3xF6BXxg7x

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 6, 2019

Translation: I'm not going to put myself in a situation where someone is able to call out my lies, rather stick to manicured PR opportunities. Absolutely extraordinary that he has been allowed to skip something other party leaders took part in. And worse: It will work. https://t.co/W38yuDnnUh

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) December 6, 2019