Carol Vorderman is AXED over her anti-Tory Twitter rants: BBC …

By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent[1] and Nick Craven for MailOnline[2]

Published: 12:01, 8 November 2023 | Updated: 16:35, 8 November 2023

Carol Vorderman[3] today said she was told to leave her BBC[4] Radio Wales show for breaching the broadcaster's new social media guidelines - as she vowed to continue her anti-Tory rants.

The 62-year-old former Countdown star, who has been at the station for five years, said she was 'not prepared to stop' venting her 'strong beliefs' on Twitter[5] and Instagram[6].

She added: 'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.'

Ms Vorderman had been accused of 'flagrantly breaching' the BBC's impartiality rules with her anti-Tory outbursts, which have included calling ministers 'a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks'.[7]

Particularly notable has been her long running feud with veterans minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity, who celebrated today by tweeting: 'Binned by the BBC'.

The BBC brought in new social media rules for its presenters following outrage earlier this year over Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker's tweet which comparing the Government's Rwanda[8] policy to Nazi Germany[9].

These prevent high-profile stars from attacking political parties and individual politicians as well as weighing into controversial issues before elections or referendums. The rules apply when their show is on air and in a two-week window before and after.

Carol Vorderman says she was told to leave her BBC Radio Wales show after falling foul of the corporation's social media policy

The presenter said she was 'not prepared to stop' venting her 'strong beliefs' on Twitter and Instagram

She has accused the Government of being 'a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks'

Particularly notable has been a spat with veterans minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity, who celebrated today by tweeting: 'Binned by the BBC'

Ms Vorderman said in a statement today: 'The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect.

'However, despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round.

What are the BBC's new social media guidelines?

Under the BBC's new social media guidelines, presenters on flagship programmes including Match Of The Day (MOTD) and The Apprentice have been banned from making attacks on political parties.

The corporation said the guidance does not include contributors, pundits, judges or guest hosts but has put through additional guidance for freelancers along with those not working in news, current affairs or factual journalism production.

In September, the broadcaster said that these type of employees 'must not bring the BBC into disrepute', are required to be respectful in public and take care when engaging with public debate.

The new guidelines followed a row over MOTD presenter Gary Lineker comparing the language used by the Conservative Government to promote its asylum plans to 1930s Germany on X which led to him briefly not presenting the show, a boycott from sports staff and a social media review.

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'Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I've ultimately found that I'm not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in.

'My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK Government for what it has done to the country which I love - and I'm not prepared to stop.

'I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.

'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave.

We each must make our decisions.

'I'm sad to have to leave the wonderful friends I've made at Radio Wales.

'I wish them, and all of our listeners, all the love in the world. We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly.

'But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.'

The BBC said: 'Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We'd like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.'

In addition to her weekly show on BBC Radio Wales, Ms Vorderman also hosted topical news quiz Have I Got News For You on BBC1 in May this year.

This month, Ms Vorderman has questioned if the Conservative Party is the 'sleaziest in history' and wrote on X that the public is 'ashamed' about the Home Secretary's recent remarks about homelessness.

Suella Braverman claimed on the social media platform that rough sleeping is sometimes a 'lifestyle choice' and called for and end to 'pitching tents in public spaces'.

Ms Vorderman quoted her post, saying: 'What I want to stop, and what the law-abiding majority wants to stop, is your vile government clinging on to power for a day longer.

'You don't speak for us.

Every week you debase democracy further. We're ashamed of you. Go now.'

Ms Vorderman was accused of being an 'education snob' when she tweeted gleefully earlier this month at the prospect of MP Johnny Mercer losing his seat in next year's general election

A Tory[10] MP has previously called for the BBC to investigate her social media posts adding: 'She makes Gary Lineker[11]'s comments look quite mild.'

Ms Vorderman has been engaged in a bitter Twitter feud with Tory MP and veteran's affairs minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity, who branded the maths whizz a 'celebrity attack dog' for directing online harassment their way.

She was accused of being an 'education snob' when she tweeted gleefully earlier this month at the prospect of Mr Mercer losing his seat in next year's general election.

The celebrity told her 890,000 followers: 'Gosh, what are arrogant Johnny Mercer & his wife going to do for a joint income of GBP160,000+ plus enormous expenses?

Not a degree in sight in spite of expensive private education! So who'd employ them?'

In March, Ms Vorderman called on women's minister Maria Caulfield to resign after she claimed she could not 'be bothered to turn up' to a committee hearing about the menopause.

In September, she is said to have deleted a number of posts about Conservative chairman Greg Hands.

Mr Hands had called on her to apologise for what he called 'defamatory and damaging' tweets about his involvement in a lifestyle firm being awarded a GBP25.8million personal protective equipment contract in 2020.

Writing on X, Ms Vorderman said she was 'happy to accept Mr Hands's assurance that his role in the process was simply to refer the approach... (and) there was no impropriety on his part'.

The new BBC social media rules apply to presenters on 'flagship programmes'

However, when Michael Gove was education secretary more than a decade ago, Ms Vorderman was announced as the head of a maths taskforce.

Tory MP for South Thanet Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline: 'She has certainly been on a strange journey because you don't find a more rabid anti-Conservative inhabiting Twitter these days.

'I don't quite know how she's got there. I know she's been having this spat with Johnny Mercer and his wife for some time, but she's in receipt of the BBC coin.

'Whichever way you look at it, she has flagrantly crossed any boundary of impartiality, fundamental to the BBCs charter, and is indulging in very anti-Conservative rhetoric.

'She's using her not insubstantial Twitter following, which will only go up on the back of her BBC programme, to actually promote a political viewpoint.

'Gary Lineker crossed some boundaries, but they seem almost mild compared to the the new space that Carol Vorderman is occupying and it's time the BBC reminded her of their own guidelines.'

Ms Vorderman's views have certainly changed, judging from her public pronouncements.

Ms Vorderman has become known for her virulently anti-Tory posts on social media

In 2009, when she teamed up with David Cameron to promote maths education in schools, she told the Daily Mail: 'Under Labour, 3.5million children have left school without a GCSE grade C or higher in maths.

It's because of my own background that I'm so ambitious for the children in our country.'

Last November, however, she tweeted: 'Good schools & teachers need nurturing. The politics of today doesn't allow for it.'

On Instagram in June she posted, along with a story about a record number of Freedom of Information blocks by the Government: 'I've tried to be on holiday for a few days but the Tory manifestation of a robbing, inept, gaslighting chaotic government keeps raising its head.'

Ironically enough, Ms Vorderman has also been outspoken on the subject of BBC impartiality - but not on her own behalf.

Instead, she called for the former chairman of the BBC governors, Richard Sharp, to resign and even posted instructions for her followers to complain to the BBC about the chairman's impartiality.

In June last year, however, she congratulated the Labour candidate in the Wakefield byelection for 'a huge victory over the Tories', adding 'GO NOW BORIS'.

She justified her comments saying: 'I'm not a politically motivated woman, never have been. I worked with David Blunkett (Labour) on the world's first online grooming law and with a previous Tory gov on Mathematics policy in schools.

Both for the cause, not the politics.'

But by October, she railed: 'I am absolutely appalled at what our parliament has become THEY HAVE CREATED ANARCHY and they question kids and others glueing themselves close to artwork or on the roads. Please God... can we just reboot with a GENERAL ELECTION'.

How Carol Vorderman has posted string of anti-Tory rants on social media: From a public spat with veterans minister Johnny Mercer and his wife to posts branding the government 'greedy, gaslighting crooks', and feud with Michelle Mone

Carol Vorderman[12] has become well known for her anti-Tory rants on Twitter and Instagram[13].

The 62-year-old former Countdown star, who has quit her weekly BBC Radio Wales show for breaking the corporation's social media guidelines, recently called the government 'greedy, gaslighting crooks'.

Among her Twitter enemies are veterans minister Johnny Mercer and his wife Felicity, who celebrated today by tweeting: 'Binned by the BBC'. She has also been locked in a longrunning feud with her former friend, the Conservative peer Michelle Mone[14].

This month, Ms Vorderman has questioned if the Conservative Party[15] is the 'sleaziest in history' and wrote on Twitter[16] that the public is 'ashamed' about the Home Secretary's recent remarks about homelessness[17].

Suella Braverman[18] claimed on the social media platform that rough sleeping is sometimes a 'lifestyle choice' and called for and end to 'pitching tents in public spaces'.

Carol Vorderman has become well known for her anti-Tory rants on Twitter and Instagram, and called the government 'greedy, gaslighting crooks'

Ms Vorderman quoted her post, saying: 'What I want to stop, and what the law-abiding majority wants to stop, is your vile government clinging on to power for a day longer.

'You don't speak for us. Every week you debase democracy further.

We're ashamed of you. Go now.'

In August, the presenter mocked Penny Mordaunt's call to bring back national service.

She wrote: 'Bring Back National Service' cries Penny Mordaunt. What a pile of utter nonsense.

She also spouts that Tories alone believe in personal responsibility and looking after others. WOW! Current Tories care only about themselves and their snouts in the troughs of power and money.

FACT'

And in June 2023 she tweeted: 'The Tory Gov has now lost around half of those who voted for them in 2019. Why? Cos they're a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks.

No need for a focus group Sunak....it'll just tell you the same...'

The presenter has also been outspoken about the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and claimed 'While people died, NHS was on its knees & money was funnelled to the VIP Lane.'

The 'VIP lane' refers to some coronavirus-related contracts which were fast-tracked when the Government was struggling to buy protective equipment during the pandemic.

Ms Vorderman has also posted a number of critical remarks about Johnny Mercer's performance as veterans' affairs minister.

The pair have had several public arguments and he has referred to her on X as a 'deeply unpleasant person'.

In March, Ms Vorderman called on women's minister Maria Caulfield to resign after she claimed she could not 'be bothered to turn up' to a committee hearing about the menopause.

In September, she is said to have deleted a number of posts about Conservative chairman Greg Hands.

Mr Hands had called on her to apologise for what he called 'defamatory and damaging' tweets about his involvement in a lifestyle firm being awarded a GBP25.8 million personal protective equipment contract in 2020.

Former friends: Carol Vorderman (left) and Baroness Mone in 2010 at the launch party of The Sun's new magazine, The Buzz

Writing on Twitter, Ms Vorderman said she was 'happy to accept Mr Hands' assurance that his role in the process was simply to refer the approach... (and) there was no impropriety on his part'.

However, when Michael Gove was education secretary more than a decade ago, Ms Vorderman was announced as the head of a maths taskforce.

A BBC spokesman said: 'Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We'd like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.'

In a statement released today, Ms Vorderman said: 'The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect.

'However, despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round.

'Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I've ultimately found that I'm not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in.

'My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK Government for what it has done to the country which I love - and I'm not prepared to stop. I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.

'Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC[19] Wales management have decided I must leave.

We each must make our decisions.

'I'm sad to have to leave the wonderful friends I've made at Radio Wales.

I wish them, and all of our listeners, all the love in the world.

We laughed a lot, and we will miss each other dearly

'But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.'

Felicity and Jonny on their wedding day in 2014

Under the BBC's new social media guidelines, presenters on flagship programmes including Match Of The Day (MOTD) and The Apprentice have been banned from making attacks on political parties.

The corporation said the guidance does not include contributors, pundits, judges or guest hosts but it has put through additional guidance for freelancers along with those not working in news, current affairs or factual journalism production.

In September, the broadcaster said these type of employees 'must not bring the BBC into disrepute', are required to be respectful in public, and take care when engaging with public debate.

The new guidelines followed a row over MOTD presenter Gary Lineker comparing the language used by the Conservative Government to promote its asylum plans to 1930s Germany on X, which led to him briefly not presenting the show, a boycott by sports staff and a social media review.

References

1. ^ Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Nick Craven for MailOnline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Carol Vorderman (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ Twitter (www.dailymail.co.uk)
6. ^ Instagram (www.dailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)
8. ^ Rwanda (www.dailymail.co.uk)
9. ^ Germany (www.dailymail.co.uk)
10. ^ Tory (www.dailymail.co.uk)
11. ^ Gary Lineker (www.dailymail.co.uk)
12. ^ Carol Vorderman (www.dailymail.co.uk)
13. ^ Instagram (www.dailymail.co.uk)
14. ^ Michelle Mone (www.dailymail.co.uk)
15. ^ Conservative Party (www.dailymail.co.uk)
16. ^ Twitter (www.dailymail.co.uk)
17. ^ homelessness (www.dailymail.co.uk)
18. ^ Suella Braverman (www.dailymail.co.uk)
19. ^ BBC (www.dailymail.co.uk)