Maajid Nawaz - Decision Time For LBC

As with the unwritten rule that the press doesn’t call out its own - as Nick Davies put it in his seminal work on the industry, Flat Earth News, “dog doesn’t eat dog” - those who work in broadcast media do not openly pass adverse comment on their fellow presenters. So when someone does call out a fellow presenter, folks sit up and take notice.

Maajid Nawaz

That breaking of ranks came yesterday afternoon as Iain Dale told his followers “In 11 years on [LBC] I have never publicly called out a fellow presenter. But I can't stand by while this sort of irresponsible and dangerous propaganda is spread by someone who ought to know better. Shame on you, Maajid. Shame. On. You. Boosters Save Lives. Scientific Fact”. His patience with Maajid Nawaz had finally expired.

Iain Dale

What caused Dale to act as he did is not hard to see. Nawaz had already declared last month that “I am double-jabbed. On PRINCIPLE, to protect vulnerable, working class & minorities from further abuse by STATE MANDATES: I RESCIND MY CONSENT FOR ANY MORE COVID JABS … UK government, if you turn FASCIST & LOCKDOWN the UNVACCINATED, you will give rise to the British Resistance”. This month brought more.

“Despite this SPIKE in all-cause MORTALITY, potential for SIDE EFFECTS & danger of creating vaccine RESISTANT STRAINS through mass vaccination during a pandemic, government wants to MANDATE, while Big Pharma is IMMUNE from ANY consequences. YOU KNOW SOMETHING’S WRONG”. It’s like a Sun editorial, where the bits you HAVE TO READ are in CAPITALS so you KNOW they’re VERY IMPORTANT. But do go on.

“Based on my above - I believe, fully scientific & verified - CONCERNS around potential for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, I have had no choice but to become a CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR in #solidarity with the UNVACCINATED. I will NOT be getting any BOOSTERS”. And it was that outburst to which Dale took exception.

He was not alone: Sunder Katwala, who has been keeping watch on Nawaz’ pronouncements for some time now, added “I think [Iain Dale] is right to say that this apparent labelling of the programme of booster vaccinations by Mr Nawaz as being potential ‘CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY’ is lurid and irresponsible” (thread HERE).

And just in case anyone had thought that LBC’s management might be able to sit this one out, Miqdaad Versi of the Muslim Council of Britain reminded us, and them, “Regular reminder: [LBC] still chooses Maajid Nawaz to be a presenter with his own radio show”.

Meanwhile, Nawaz has used the services of British Airways to take his leave of the UK and cross the pond, telling his followers “Off to beloved Tennessee to reunite with family & friends for Christmas” before slipping in another mini-rant: “And finally, no. I will not be getting a 3rd, or any further booster. I am a conscientious objector, in solidarity with the vaccine-free”. Although, whisper it quietly, he’s already had two jabs.

The problem for LBC can be seen in the replies to Dale and Nawaz’ pronouncements: rather a lot of people take the latter’s rantings as unvarnished fact, at a time when getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is critical to preventing the NHS being overwhelmed.

The time of Maajid Nawaz at LBC was for a time, but possibly not for all time.

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