Cameron hits out at BBC after Tory candidate snubs hustings

Friday 22 February 2013

David Cameron launched a furious attack on the BBC over claims that the Tory candidate refused to take part in an Eastleigh by-election hustings.

CAMPAIGN: David Cameron had angry exchanges with a BBC reporter on a visit to a factory. Picture: PA

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The Prime Minister accused the corporation of behaving "badly and stupidly" over arrangements for the Radio 5 Live event.

The Conservatives said Maria Hutchings had been unable to face off against her Liberal Democrat, Labour and UK Independence Party (Ukip) opponents because she was visiting a factory with Mr Cameron.

Sources also complained the party had only been told the exact timing of the hustings shortly beforehand.Mr Cameron reacted angrily when pressed by a local BBC reporter on why Mrs Hutchings had not taken part."She was with me at a very important meeting in a business that's the beating heart of Eastleigh employing hundreds of people and she's been doing hustings up and down the constituency," he shot back.The reporter pointed out he had been able to attend both events, with Mr Cameron replying: "Well, you were a bit late.""Maria has done hustings all over the constituency," the PM said. "The BBC has behaved badly and stupidly about this from everything I've heard about what's happened, but she has been doing hustings."My understanding is that we were discussing with you for ages beforehand about the timing of the hustings and the fact that Maria wanted to be with me for this meeting."Asked whether the Tories had been "hiding" Mrs Hutchings, the premier insisted: "We're not hiding her away, she's here."You know you're not the most important thing in this by-election – the candidates are."Mr Cameron insisted the argument in the by-election should be about substance rather than form."The substance of the issue is who is the best candidate for Eastleigh. Maria is hard-working, lives locally, a mother-of-four, business experience – that's what matters," he said.

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Cameron hits out at BBC after Tory candidate snubs hustings

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