BBC Breakfast viewers demand apology after Naga Munchetty makes major blunder live on air
BBC Breakfast viewers have been angered by a segment on this morning’s show over strikes among the emergency services.
Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty discussed the current junior doctor strikes during the BBC Breakfast report.
Junior doctors have begun a 5-day strike in protest over pay conditions that is set to end on Tuesday, followed by senior doctors and consultants set to walk out next week for two days.
Following a cutaway video on the current strike, Charlie passed over to Naga, who went into detail about other industries that are striking or set to strike following a year filled with train driver and teacher strikes.
Naga started: “Well, we are seeing teachers and police officers amongst some of the industries striking, and this is all leading into pressure on the government and now a decision on how much of a pay rise workers in the public sector will receive this year is expected to be made.
“And it could happen as soon as today.”
Viewers of the show were quick to hit out online, pointing out that police officers were not allowed to strike.
A spectator said: “@BBCBreakfast @TVNaga01that’s incorrect. Police officers cannot strike.”
A second added: “@BBCBreakfast @TVNaga01, please can you issue a correction to your piece on people who are/have been striking – Police are legally NOT allowed to strike contrary to your wording #Police #thinblueline #verify.”
“Surely there is some law or legislation to stop these strikes, HM forces, police not allowed to strike they are public servants taken an oath. At least as with covid, publish numbers of deaths before and during strike action,” a spectator questioned.
One viewer stated that all emergency services should get a pay rise and said: “DRs/Heath care professionals, emergency workers all deserve fair pay for all the training and study they go through. Good luck to them. Governments/MP’s never accept the pay review body recommendations unless it’s for their own pay rises.”
Naga passed the baton over to political correspondent Ione Wells who declared she heard from treasury sources that the government will announce today what pay raises it will accept for certain types of public sector workers.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.