What's happened
Laura Kuenssberg, BBC's political presenter, accidentally sent briefing notes to Boris Johnson, leading to the cancellation of their scheduled interview. The incident, described as 'embarrassing and disappointing,' has drawn attention ahead of Johnson's memoir release next week.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Laura Kuenssberg described her mistake as 'embarrassing and disappointing,' stating, 'there are plenty of important questions to be asked.' The BBC confirmed that the interview was 'untenable' due to the error. Meanwhile, The Mirror highlighted the missed opportunity for Johnson to address pressing issues like Partygate and his COVID-19 response. The BBC's decision to cancel the interview has opened the door for other media outlets to engage with Johnson, as noted by Channel 4 presenter Cathy Newman, who invited him to appear on her show instead.
How we got here
The planned interview was set to be Boris Johnson's first major discussion about his time as Prime Minister since leaving office. Kuenssberg's error occurred while preparing for the interview, resulting in the sharing of sensitive briefing notes.
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Laura Juliet Kuenssberg is a British journalist. She is currently the political editor of BBC News, succeeding Nick Robinson in July 2015 and is the first woman to hold the position.
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Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson Hon FRIBA is a British politician, writer, and former journalist serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2019.
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The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London, it is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees.
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