Allison Pearson - Brexit Bigot

A series of explosions has been reported in and around the Belgian capital Brussels this morning: Zaventam Airport appears to have been the first, with several fatalities and many injuries after a blast said to be close to the American Airlines check-in. Some city centre Metro stations have been evacuated. Many in London and Madrid may be experiencing a sense of déjà vu: we have been here before.

Allison Pearson (photo: Twitter)

With the situation still developing, one might have thought that those who labour in the field of journalism would be watching, waiting and measured in their response, sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of those who have lost loved ones. But over at the Telegraph, that thought would have been misplaced: showing just how far the former paper of record has fallen, pundit Allison Pearson decided to use the attack to propagandise.

“Brussels, de facto capital of the EU, is also the jihadist capital of Europe. And the Remainers dare to say we're safer in the EU! #Brexit” she trilled unthinkingly. Ms Pearson has significant previous for this sort of bigotry, but this was crass in the extreme. Owen Jones tried a subtle hint: “astonishingly awful tweet”. ITV Europe editor James Mates tried a similar approach, with “Perhaps not the moment …”.

Others were not so restrained at reading this attack of opportunism. Liv Austen’s response was typical: “Wow. Disgusting, selfish and stupid in less than 140 characters. Quite impressive”. Ben Padley was equally unimpressed: “as people dead and dying in Brussels Airport you decide to use the tragedy to make Brexit arguments. Desperate and pathetic”.

The idea that the EU, and Britain’s membership of it, was behind it all did not impress Kristin Heimark: “is American Airlines the ‘de facto’ head of the EU?” she asked. That airline may have been, after all, specifically targeted. Paul Raeburn, who is in Brussels, was equally unconvinced by the EU blaming: “disgustingly distasteful. You should be ashamed. I suppose you blame 7/7 on the EU?” Quite.

And the sheer, gaping lack of basic common sense brought further severely adverse comment, with Tim Turner observing “As you are demonstrating very well, there are dangerous morons in every country”. Dave B also tried to tell Ms Pearson that her outburst was plain wrong: “it's always cool to use dead people who haven't even been named yet to prop up your poorly thought out politics #classy”. Classy it was not.

As Ms Pearson left the Tweet in place, the condemnation kept on coming. Ian Patterson replied “disgraceful to make comments like that whilst events unfolding. It's also ludicrous to suggest it's anything EU related”, while Sven Egil Omdal said simply “How absolutely disgraceful, a shame on our profession”. Yes, a stain on an already stained profession.

Back in the day, Allison Pearson would not have got in the door at the Telegraph. The fact that they let her in, and she believes this is acceptable behaviour, tells you all you need to know about that paper’s sad decline. This is bang out of order. Full stop, end of story.