The BBC interview that saw Boris Johnson accused of being a “nasty piece of work” has been branded a “disgusting piece of journalism” by the London mayor’s father.
Stanley Johnson said he “felt great anger” towards Dundonian broadcaster Eddie Mair, who was standing in as presenter on the Andrew Marr Show, for the way he had treated his son in the interview, which has since been dubbed a “bike crash” by pundits.
During the uncomfortable 15-minute exchange, the mayor was grilled over matters of “integrity”, including suggestions he had lied about having an extra-marital affair.
Mr Johnson said his son had been openly abused on the flagship political programme and claimed the BBC had “sank about as low as it could”.
“I thought Eddie Mair’s interview was about the most disgusting piece of journalism I’ve listened to for a very long time,” he said.
“The BBC sank about as low as it could. If grilling people about their private lives, accusing them of guilt by association and openly abusing them is a legitimate interview, then frankly, I don’t know where we are coming.”
During the broadcast, the mayor was pressed over whether he lied to Tory leader Michael Howard about allegations of an affair in 2004 which resulted in his resignation as shadow arts minister as well as claims he was sacked from a national newspaper more than two decades ago for making up a quote.
Mr Johnson said his son had been told the interview would focus on issues affecting London.
“Instead, he dug up totally irrelevant things, totally irrelevant, which had been dealt with ages and ages ago and as soon as Boris wanted to explain them, he moved on and, by the way, there is such a thing, I would have thought, as essential respect,” he said. “I felt great anger at this man. I have no idea who Eddie Mair is or what he does, but frankly, there is such a thing as respecting the office, even if you don’t respect the man.”
Our Mair, Their Mayor see Tuesday’s Courier for a special profile of Eddie Mair.