01 March 2024 , 12:52
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Fiona Bruce has been criticised after appearing to mock a visually impaired woman for wearing "sunglasses" in the Question Time audience.
The presenter selected the woman to ask a question on the BBC One political discussion show. As she pointed to choose her, she said: "Yes at the very back, there’s two people. You’ve got sunglasses on, I know these lights are bright, I didn’t know they were that bright! But anyway off you go."
The audience member responded: "I promise I have a licence to wear these. They’re not sunglasses." Ms Bruce replied: "Oh forgive me, forgive me."
The Royal National Institute of Blind People criticised the interaction and wrote online: "Moments like this are why it's vital to educate everyone, especially those with platforms like BBC Question Time, that sight is a spectrum. People with the same eye condition can have different experiences. For some, wearing eye shields might be due to sensitivity to light."
The audience member was forced to explain that she had a 'licence' to wear the glasses (BBC)The charity made the comment in response to a Twitter user called on the BBC presenter to make a public apology. She added: "As someone who is registered blind with extreme light sensitivity I found it offensive!"
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The Question Time panel had been debating the question: "Should everyone have the right to express their opinion even if others find it unpalatable?" The audience member wearing glasses said people "have to be able to say" if a comment is Islamophobia. It was in reference to the Government failing to use the term "Islamophobic" to describe Lee Anderson's comment that Sadiq Khan was controlled by Islamists.
Fiona Bruce's comments were criticised by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (BBC)She continued: "What is really wild about this entire debate is that is the very same man who about 18 months ago, I think on GB News, or one of these other fringe media sites, was talking about how the Government does not have a concrete plan for the general election so is going to fight this election on culture wares."
In February last year Mr Anderson, who was then Tory Deputy Chairman, said the Conservatives needed to fight the next election on culture wars as they have lost their winning formula from 2019. The Ashfield MP said the party would likely put a "mix of culture wars and trans debate" at the heart of its election offer.