BBC journalist facing backlash for ‘horrendous’ interview with Daisy Goodwin over Tory sexual assault claim

A BBC journalist has been criticised over their questioning of novelist and TV producer Daisy Goodwin who claims she was groped by a former Downing Street aide.

Women's rights campaigners have accused Martha Kearney of taking a "horrendous" approach that questioned the veracity of Goodwin's account of harassment.

Goodwin was being interviewed after submitting a formal complaint against Daniel Korski, who has now quit the race to be the Conservative Party's candidate for London mayor.

Later on Wednesday, Korski – who continues to deny the allegation – said he was pulling out of the race “with a heavy heart”.

However, the pressure on my family because of this false and unproven allegation, and the inability to get a hearing for my message of ‘The London Dream’, makes it impossible for my campaign to carry on,” he said in a statement.

Goodwin claims Korski put his hand on her breast during a meeting at 10 Downing Street in 2013.

Korski, a former special adviser to then prime minister David Cameron, has strongly denied the allegation.

In her first broadcast interview since she accused Korski in an article she wrote for The Times newspaper, Goodwin was questioned on Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday morning.

During the interview, BBC presenter Kearney asked Goodwin: "Are you absolutely certain about what happened to you?

"It was 10 years ago, could there have been any ambiguity about it?"

After a long pause, Goodwin replied: "I'm really surprised you're asking me that, Martha.

"Yes, it happened to me 10 years ago, but when something like this happens to you, you know that it happened to you because you were there, you felt it, you felt amazed, shocked and rather humiliated.

"I mean, to ask me if I'm certain is to ask me if I'm making it up. That's not the case."

Kearney's questioning of Goodwin was criticised by women's groups.

Jemima Olchaswki, chief executive of women's rights charity the Fawcett Society, told Yahoo News UK: "I had to check my calendar this morning when I heard Daisy Goodwin being asked if she was 'absolutely certain' about what happened to her.

Read more: No 10 insists it is ‘safe environment for women’ following groping claim

"This is 2023 and our media should have moved on from questioning women in this way.

"Outdated questions that essentially ask if she is making it up should be consigned to the history books.

"We know women don't report harassment, violence and rape because they're concerned they won't be believed and Today's interview simply reinforces that."

Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, told Yahoo News UK the Conservative Party should not select Korski as a mayoral candidate until the allegation has been investigated.

She said: “The line of questioning directed at Daisy Goodwin today is horrendous, but it is not surprising to see.

"The scrutiny women come under when reporting sexual harassment and abuse is rife, whether it’s from the media, the public, or from within the police and criminal justice system. These attitudes deter women from reporting.

“And whilst women are routinely disbelieved and scrutinised, powerful men facing unresolved allegations are allowed to avoid scrutiny and investigation."

There was condemnation of the interview on social media.

One Twitter user said Kearney had asked Goodwin "pretty much the most awful, victim blaming question". Another user said: "This is why women keep silent."

Yahoo News UK has approached the BBC for comment.

Goodwin told the Today programme she tried to make a formal complaint on Tuesday, calling 10 Downing Street and emailing the Cabinet Office.

She said: “It’s basically like trying to get through to BT if your phone line has gone down.”

Goodwin said she did not receive a response until The Times ran a story that she was filing a formal complaint.

She did not rule out making a complaint to Conservative Party headquarters.

On Tuesday, Korski told TalkTV he had met Goodwin, but he denied that anything improper had occurred.

He said: “I didn’t do what’s been alleged. I absolutely didn’t do that. Ten years ago, when it happened, nothing was said to me. Seven years ago, when this first came out, nobody alleged anything to me.

“I’ve had countless meetings in Number 10, have had thousands of meetings since then in my business career, I treat everybody with the utmost respect, I work hard to create an empowering and respectful environment, and I sit appropriately in chairs, and I try to treat everybody with respect in order to get the best out of a professional situation."

Children and families minister Claire Coutinho said she had paused her support for Korski's campaign to be London mayor and said that any complaint should be investigated “swiftly”.

She told Sky News: “At the same time, this is an allegation. He’s roundly denied it,”

“If there is a complaint in the system, it needs to be followed up swiftly so we can find the facts and see what’s happened, but I do think it’s a very serious and concerning allegation.”

The Conservative Party said on Tuesday it was not investigating the claim and Downing Street said No 10 was a safe environment for women.

Watch: Labour urges Tories to take Daniel Korski allegations 'seriously'