BBC executives have defended the decision to air an interview with French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Remembrance Sunday following an angry backlash on social media.
Critics hit out at the corporation accusing it of giving a “platform for fascism” and branded the timing “inappropriate” after it emerged the National Front leader would appear during a pre-recorded interview.
But the BBC has dismissed the outrage, claiming the controversial politician is a “serious contender” for the French presidency.
Andrew Marr Show editor Rob Burley posted a series of tweets justifying why Ms Le Pen was chosen to be interviewed on the political programme.
Among the reasons he stated was Donald Trump’s shock election win which he said made victory for Ms Le Pen a “possibility”.
Ms Le Pen posted a series of tweets following Mr Trump's stunning upset over Hillary Clinton which she described as "good news" for France.
He wrote: “Marine Le Pen is a controversial booking. But she is a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views. . .
“Her party's support - 6m in 2015 elections, 6m in the last Presidential Election and her ratings ahead of 2017 election significant. .
“In French politics she is "normalised" by public support. We either treat her seriously or censor her.
“The shocks to conventional wisdom of the Referendum result & Donald Trump's election make her victory a possibility if it wasn't already.”
His intervention came amid a storm of angry tweets from social media users.
Journalist Liam O’Hare wrote: “The BBC has invited a neo-fascist - Marine Le Pen - to be a guest on the Andrew Marr show this Sunday. Remembrance Sunday. Lest we forget?”
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Caroline Evans posted: “On Remembrance Sunday #Marr sees Marine Le Pen as an appropriate guest. BBC frequently allowing fascism to be an acceptable political view.”
And Irene Klein tweeted: “I really admire your work, but giving fascists a platform is what brought us here in the first place. Please stop.”
The Andrew Marr Show is broadcast on BBC1 on Sundays at 9am.
