Andy Burnham comments on incident at Manchester Airport
BBC Breakfast viewers slammed the show after Mayor Andy Burnham made an appearance on the daytime show to have his say on the recent footage leading up to an incident at Manchester Airport.
Earlier this week, an armed officer has been suspended for stamping on a man’s head. However, new footage at Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport shows the alleged assault of three police officers in chaotic scenes.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham appeared on BBC Breakfast to speak about the footage, saying it's an "extremely difficult situation" and hopes that the two investigations can be completed so we can "draw a line" on it.
However, many fans of the show quickly took to social media to describe it a "car crash interview." One person fumed on X: "Burnham can't even backpedal with any sort of competency. Car crash interview."
A second person also moaned: " #bbcbreakfast he’s waiting for the investigation… having watched the video you don’t need any further evidence Burnham!!! But ‘as a politician’ he ‘shouldn’t rush to judgement’".
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A third also typed: "Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester explaining that we live in a world where ‘people see only a fragment, they rush to judgement’ completely forgetting that he was one of the people he speaks of. #BBCBreakfast."
In the initial footage, an armed officer is seen in a video kicking a man in the head and stamping on it. He has since been suspended and an investigation is under way.
On Wednesday night, protesters gathered at Rochdale police station and another demonstration took place in Manchester on Thursday where marchers blocked traffic.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester explaining that we live in a world where ‘people see only a fragment, they rush to judgement’ completely forgetting that he was one of the people he speaks of. #BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/ndrve8ziIR
— Vanessa (@vanessahodgesx) July 28, 2024
However, more footage has since been obtained by Manchester Evening News. Police are appealing for witnesses over two altercations where a female constable suffered a broken nose.
Earlier this week, Andy Burnham had asked for calm and said: "It is a fast-moving and complicated situation in a challenging location at the airport. It is not clear-cut, I would say, and there are issues for both sides in the situation. That said, it is right that the officer has been suspended. It is abundantly clear to me that the right steps have been taken."
BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6:30am.
