Emily Maitlis has found herself under fire from Jeremy Corbyn fans after he appeared on Channel 4 during Thursday evening’s General Election coverage.
Maitlis fronted the network’s programming alongside Krishnan Guru-Murthy as Labour romped to a landslide majority victory.
But Labour’s win and the Conservatives’ dismal performance weren’t the only talking points from the evening as in Islington North, Corbyn won the seat running as an independent following his expulsion from Labour.
In his victory speech, Corbyn said: “I couldn’t be more proud of my constituency than I am tonight and proud of our team that brought this result. Thank you very much Islington North for the result we have achieved tonight.”
And soon after the result, he joined Maitlis and Guru-Murthy via video link to discuss what his and Labour’s respective victories meant for the country.
Before letting him go, Guru-Murthy quizzed Corbyn on the ongoing conflict in Palestine: “I just want to finally ask you also about Labour’s position on Israel-Gaza which has been costly to the party tonight.
General Election 2024: Emily Maitlis has come under fire for her reaction to Jeremy Corbyn
CHANNEL 4
“Jonathan Ashworth has lost his seat, other people are in trouble over it. What’s the lesson?”
Maitlis could be spotted pushing her hair to one side before scanning to her right and then staring at Guru-Murthy as he delivered his probe.
As Corbyn began to speak, Maitlis appeared to look off into the distance on her right-hand side while placing her chin in her left hand.
Corbyn said: “Well, the lesson is people are appalled when they see the pictures of the destruction of Gaza. 30,000 or more people have already died in Gaza and we are complicit because we are supplying weapons to Israel which are being used to bomb Gaza.
JEREMY CORBYN WINS HIS SEAT GOES ON CHANNEL 4 AND SPEAKS ABOUT THE GAZA GENOCIDE AND A PALESTINIAN STATE
Watch Emily Maitlis body language@jeremycorbyn pic.twitter.com/kL1gIWO2cD
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) July 5, 2024
“There has to be a ceasefire, there has to be recognition of the state of Palestine, there has to be justice for the Palestinian people.
“That is a message that resonates with millions in this country, be they Muslim, Jewish, Christian, or any particular faith and I think the incoming government needs to reflect that the people who have spoken out about Gaza are not going to go away, they’re not going to shut up, they’re going to carry on speaking out until the killing ends and we see justice for the people of Palestine.”
Maitlis remained silent as Guru-Murthy chimed in to say Starmer may recongise Palestine as its own state, which prompted Corbyn to conclude: “He (Starmer) should recognise the Palestinian state but the last statement I heard from him appeared to be having so many caveats in it, it’s not clear when or how that recognition will come about.”
Guru-Murthy brought the interview to a close as he and Maitlis moved on with the show but some watching at home took issue with Maitlis’ conduct.
Sharing a clip of the moment on X, formerly Twitter, one Corbyn fan raged: “JEREMY CORBYN WINS HIS SEAT GOES ON CHANNEL 4 AND SPEAKS ABOUT THE GAZA GENOCIDE AND A PALESTINIAN STATE. Watch Emily Maitlis body language.”
A second also echoed: “Just watching the state of Emily Maitlis when Jeremy Corbyn was being interviewed. Showed herself up for what she is. Very average and overrated, with a total lack of professionalism. Not a good night for Channel 4.”
Emily Maitlis has been slammed by Corbyn fans
CHANNEL 4
Meanwhile, a third replied to the initial post: “What a disgraceful display of disrespect from Emily Maitlis. She turns her face to the side and keeps it there shunning Jeremy Corbyn. It’s totally undeserved.”
And a fourth hit out: “@maitlis @Channel4News I know you were working late at night. But for a news reader conducting an interview, Emily Maitlis what an unprofessional look on camera. It is basic manners and television to face the man you are interviewing.”
However, some jumped to the defence of Maitlis, including one X user who argued: “Looks like she’s listening to the producer to me, who’s probably telling her where they’re going next. She actually nods in agreement at the end when she does tune into the conversation. Reading anything else into this is ridiculous.”
And another was more concerned with slamming Corbyn rather than Maitlis: “He cares more about terrorists in Gaza than his own people. Dangerous man.”
