Julie Etchingham slammed for ‘interrupting Boris Johnson twice as often as Jeremy Corbyn’ during ITV Debate

Harriet Brewis
Newsreader Julie Etchingham has divided opinion following the ITV leaders' debate: ITV via Getty Images
Newsreader Julie Etchingham has divided opinion following the ITV leaders' debate: ITV via Getty Images

Supporters of Boris Johnson have claimed that host Julie Etchingham interrupted the Prime Minister twice as often as she did Jeremy Corbyn during the ITV leaders debate.

She cut off Mr Johnson 30 times, compared to 14 for the Labour leader, a Tory spin doctor reportedly counted.

Viewers were quick to criticise Ms Etchingham over the issue, with one writing on Twitter: "Watching the #LeadersDebates on YouTube... it gets VERY dull that Julie Etchingham just cuts Boris Johnson off every time he tries to explain his points…”

Another commented: “Julie Etchingham is supposed to be impartial but she keeps interrupting Boris Johnson, tells him his time is up when he has hardly said a word but lets Jeremy Corbyn ramble on and on.”

Boris Johnson, Julie Etchingham and Jeremy Corbyn in the studio prior to tonight's head-to-head debate (PA)
Boris Johnson, Julie Etchingham and Jeremy Corbyn in the studio prior to tonight's head-to-head debate (PA)

However, others were quick to defend the ITV newsreader, instead criticising the PM for “disrespecting” her by repeatedly flouting the 30-second time limit on answers.

“Boris Johnson repeatedly talking over Julie Etchingham when she asks him to stop is a really really bad look. #ITVDebate,” tweeted one observer.

Another added: “This ITV leaders debate is awful. Boris Johnson keeps talking for longer than he should, which means the most commonly used expression throughout the whole thing was Julie Etchingham saying “thank you Mr Johnson. Does he deserve to be thanked this much?”

Talkradio host Julia Hartley-Brewer praised Ms Etchingham as a “great moderator”, saying a “poor format” was to blame for the frustration.

She tweeted: “Julie Etchingham is a great moderator but she was given a poor format for the debate by ITV. No one can make a worthwhile point on a major issue in 30 seconds. More time spent shutting Boris & Jezza up than hearing what they had to say. #ITVLeadersDebate.”

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage also offered his take on the debate, saying it showed Mr Corbyn was a “better debater” than his Tory counterpart.

However, he insisted, both showed a “total failure of leadership” throughout the head-to-head.

“We have a clear winner of the #ITVDebate tonight,” he tweeted. “Julie Etchingham.”

The Standard has contacted ITV for comment.