Ken Loach has accused the British media of ignoring Jeremy Corbyn’s policies.
Speaking on ITV’s The Agenda, the veteran filmmaker even lay blame on the host channel.
He said: “I think several things; first of all Jeremy Corbyn’s policies are clear if you look for them but they’re ignored by the media.
“No one speaks for him. There’s not a paper that speaks for him. The BBC is biased against him and I’m sure ITV is too.
Host Tom Brady replied: “I’d like to think not.”
Loach continued: “Well you would but we wouldn’t you have spent the first part talking about benefit cheats when we should have been talking about the conscious cruelty of this government.
“That’s what we should have been talking about to begin with.”
A study by the London School of economics published earlier this year found 75% of the media “misrepresented” Corbyn.
It found:
“Our analysis shows that Corbyn was thoroughly delegitimised as a political actor from the moment he became a prominent candidate and even more so after he was elected as party leader, with a strong mandate. This process of delegitimisation occurred in several ways: 1) through lack of or distortion of voice; 2) through ridicule, scorn and personal attacks; and 3) through association, mainly with terrorism.”
Last week Loach praised Corbyn and shadow chancellor John McDonnell on the BBC’s Question Time.
He said both men were “good leaders” and told fellow panellist, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, to “follow what they say”.
Loach was responding to a question from an audience member relating to Heathrow expansion and climate change during which he lamented the lack of unity in the Labour party.
He said: “It [a third runway] is an absolutely stupid decision, it’s unrealistic and it is disastrous.
“And I do wish for once the Labour MPs would follow the wisdom of their leaders Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell and stick with what they say.”
Then, pointing Starmer, added: “They’re good leaders, follow what they say.”