Emily Maitlis insists she 'asked for the night off' after she was mysteriously replaced on Newsnight by Katie Razzall as 'hacked off' BBC colleagues say her impartial Dominic Cummings monologue is 'hardly a one-off'

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Emily Maitlis today insisted that she had 'asked for a night off' from presenting Newsnight after being reprimanded for a lack of impartiality by the BBC over her Dominic Cummings monologue.

The broadcaster, 49, accused the Prime Minister of 'blind loyalty' to his adviser in the on-going debate over Mr Cummings's 260-mile trip from London to County Durham amid the coronavirus lockdown in March. 

The BBC said yesterday Ms Maitlis had breached the broadcaster's impartiality rules when she asserted Boris Johnson's chief aide had flouted the lockdown rules by driving to his parents' home during lockdown and taking his family to a beauty spot on his wife's birthday.

And when colleague Katie Razzall stepped in last night her bosses at the BBC were accused of dragging her off air.

But in a 2.30am tweet this morning Ms Maitlis wrote: 'So grateful to my friend and excellent colleague @katierazz for stepping in this evening . She did so because I asked for the night off  -knowing tonight’s prog would be in the most excellent hands'.  She added later: 'Been overwhelmed by all the kindness, messages - and support on here - and I’ve probably missed much of it. A big thank you from us all at #newsnight'. 

One senior BBC figure told The Times that some of her colleagues were 'hacked off', adding: 'This is hardly a one -off. It's one rule for her, it seems'.

Viewers noticed that her last-minute Newsnight replacement studiously ignored coverage of the presenter being reprimanded over her on-air address. Ms Razzall carefully avoided drawing attention to media coverage of the previous night's broadcast when reviewing the headlines of today's papers - even where her colleague's face was plastered across the front page.

Emily Maitlis was out with her husband Mark Gwynne in West London today as the storm raged over her Dominic Cummings monologue

The BBC has been inundated with complaints about the Newsnight show - but also messages from Ms Maitlis' supporters

Newsnight reporter Katie Razzall stood in for Maitlis on last night's show, and she carefully avoided drawing attention to coverage of the controversial broadcast in UK newspapers

Newsnight host Emily Maitlis spoke about the Dominic Cummings row on Tuesday's show

Emily Maitlis tweeted that she had asked for the night off last night and thanked people for their support as some viewers said she had been reprimanded by the BBC for telling the facts of the story

Maitlis was prominently featured on the front pages of the Telegraph and the Guardian, but Razzall merely mentioned: 'You will see a few of them have a covering story about Newsnight related to coronavirus and Dominic Cummings.'

The BBC had confirmed earlier in the evening that Maitlis would be replaced by Razzall for the episode, despite being scheduled to present that night.  

The substitute host did not address the controversy throughout the programme other than to acknowledge some front pages included a story involving Newsnight. 

Newsnight editor Esme Wren said on Twitter Maitlis had not been 'replaced tonight in response to the BBC statement' and that the programme's staff 'work as a team throughout'.

Razzall also said her colleague had 'not been asked by the BBC to take tonight off', adding that she 'certainly wouldn't have agreed to present the show' if she thought that was the case. 

In the controversial Newsnight opening, Maitlis said: 'The longer ministers and the Prime Minister tell us he worked within [the rules], the more angry the response to this scandal is likely to be.

'He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood, who tagged the lazy label of elite on those who disagreed.

'He should understand that public mood now - one of fury, contempt and anguish.' 

The BBC said it must 'uphold the highest standards of due impartiality in its news output' in its response to backlash over the monologue.

A statement added: 'We've reviewed the entirety of last night's Newsnight, including the opening section, and while we believe the programme contained fair, reasonable and rigorous journalism, we feel that we should have done more to make clear the introduction was a summary of the questions we would examine, with all the accompanying evidence, in the rest of the programme.  

'As it was, we believe the introduction we broadcast did not meet our standards of due impartiality.' 

The BBC also said staff had been 'reminded of the guidelines' around impartiality following the divisive broadcast. 

Some viewers criticised the BBC's 'weak response' to the scandal on social media, with one user writing: 'Not enough, Maitlis has been consistently biased and you simply cannot just remind her.'

'Serious disciplinary action needs to be taken.'

Another added: 'Not good enough, I'm afraid. It's the second [time] Maitlis has broken impartiality rules.

'She should now resign. After all, we pay her wages.'

Others spoke out in support of the presenter, claiming the controversial speech was a 'brilliant, clear and thoughtful introduction.' 

Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan branded the BBC statement 'utterly disgraceful', adding that the BBC is 'chucking one of its best journalists under the bus for telling the truth'.

His words were echoed by journalist and former Newsnight economics editor Paul Mason, who said that the decision made him 'sick'.

He tweeted: 'Every word Maitlis said was true: truth is the criterion of real journalism.'  

The issue over whether Mr Cummings broke any coronavirus lockdown rules has been the subject of fierce debate in recent days, with him denying any wrongdoing.

Her comments also come ahead of the conclusion of a police probe looking into complaints against him at the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner's request.

It is Maitlis's second impartiality row in as many months, after she was criticised in April for talking down claims that coronavirus is a 'great leveller' for society.

And in July 2019, she was criticised in an internal BBC investigation after some viewers complained she was 'sneering and bullying' towards journalist Rod Liddle.

Maitlis' most recent comments attracted a huge backlash on social media, with one viewer tweeting: 'BBC bare-faced bias'. 

Another wrote: 'What a totally disgraceful speech from Emily Maitlis and the BBC Newsnight editorial team. 

'Ofcom need to step in because the BBC are clearly breaking their own charter. This in nasty and not at all unbiased or impartial. The licence fee should be revoked, Boris Johnson.'

And a third said: 'This is atrocious. This is a presenter's opinion and using her position to give her viewpoint. We deserve as taxpayers to have impartial broadcasters.' 

Maitlis was prominently featured on the front pages of the Telegraph and the Guardian, but Razzall merely mentioned: 'You will see a few of them have a covering story about Newsnight related to coronavirus and Dominic Cummings'

The admission was noticed by viewers on Twitter, who took to social media to comment on the 'awkward' segment

Boris Johnson's chief political advisor Dominic Cummings arrives at Downing Street today

However, on Maitlis's Twitter feed, she retweeted a number of positive comments about her opening speech - with one describing it as 'savage brilliance' and another saying she 'tells it how it is'.

Another said: 'Emily Maitlis and Newsnight should be praised. There was no bias, just good reporting, investigation, challenging and holding to account. Well done BBC and not just Radio 4 this time. Good. More please.'

Meanwhile, Tory MP Philip Davies told MailOnline: 'It seems that the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky News long ago ended any pretence of impartial reporting and now believe their role is to indoctrinate everyone with their left-wing London centric metropolitan views. 

'Emily Maitlis on Newsnight was a prime example of that. Ofcom seem to be asleep at the wheel and if they are not going to take action to ensure the impartiality of broadcasters then they should either make way for people who will or scrap the rules around impartiality so that there is no longer any pretence.'

Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, added: 'The BBC fought long and hard to stop Ofcom having and overview of the BBC. Now it is time for Ofcom to prove their worth. 

'There needs to be a full inquiry into whether the BBC is reporting the news or whether it is dictating the news agenda and editorialising too presenting personal views.'

The programme's introduction was also criticised by Chris Green, the Conservative MP for Bolton West, who said on Twitter that it 'had a clear bias and had nothing to do with the BBC's mission to inform and educate'.

He added: 'We do not need Newsnight to behave as poor quality entertainment.' 

However, Labour MP Dawn Butler tweeted: 'A constituent emailed complaint about Emily Maitlis bias.

'I'm still trying to work out what they meant. This is reporting facts. Have people gotten so used to biased reporting that they now fail to recognise factual reporting? All Cummings had to say was sorry and show some regret.'   

Viewers who wish to make a complaint about a BBC programme must do so to the corporation first, and can then complain to Ofcom if unsatisfied with the response.

The broadcaster was forced to publish a notice on its complaints portal due to the volume of messages it had received, alongside directing those who wished to complain to a mailing list 'to be emailed the BBC's response as soon as it is available.'   

Emily Maitlis was replaced tonight by Newsnight special correspondent Katie Razzall (pictured), despite still being listed as the presenter online

Some viewers have criticised the BBC's 'weak response' to the scandal on social media, with one user writing: 'Not enough, Maitlis has been consistently biased and you simply cannot just remind her'

Former Labour MP Kate Hoey tweeted today: 'Understand that the BBC is being inundated with complaints about Emily Maitlis and Newsnight from last night. 

'I have also put in a complaint and am sure many, many more will #BBCbias.'

And another said: 'I have never complained about the BBC before but this incensed me. Putting a complaint in is easy and if anyone else is upset by this programme I recommend they do the same. 

'Only takes a few minutes and surely our impartial news is worth five minutes of our time?'

Mr Cummings has been under fire since details of a 260-mile trip from London to the North East of England he made with his family emerged, with a string of Conservative MPs calling for his sacking. 

Last night, the scale of the Tory revolt over the row became clear as almost 40 of the party's MPs called for him to resign, a minister quit and some warned of a 'Black Wednesday' crisis.

Amid growing anger from all wings of the party, Scotland Office minister Douglas Ross said he was quitting over the issue.

He said he could not defend Mr Cummings's actions to constituents who had followed the 'stay at home' advice and denied themselves the chance to visit sick relatives. 

Mr Ross joined a list of at least 39 Tory MPs who by last night, had called for Mr Johnson's most senior aide to leave Downing Street. 

The list includes four members of the executive of the backbench 1922 committee and 15 former ministers.

Many of the MPs calling for Mr Cummings's departure told how they had received more than a thousand messages from constituents over the aide's failure to abide by the lockdown, with warnings that party members were among the angriest.

One senior backbencher said: 'This is not the usual suspects, it is our grassroots, our own members. If we don't stop this now, it will be our Black Wednesday.'

Downing Street had hoped that Mr Cummings's press conference on Monday would take the heat out of the row, but calls for him to go continued to grow as the public remained unconvinced by his explanation of his actions and refusal to apologise.  

The Prime Minister's hopes that he had drawn a line under the crisis were shattered when Mr Ross became the first minister to quit over the row at about 9am yesterday. 

The under-secretary of state for Scotland said he could not 'in good faith' tell his constituents who could not say goodbye to loved ones while obeying lockdown rules that Mr Cummings had acted appropriately. 

On Maitlis's Twitter feed, she retweeted a number of positive comments about her opening speech - with one describing it as 'savage brilliance' and another saying she 'tells it how it is'

Section 4.1 of the BBC's editorial guidelines states: 'The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output. This commitment is fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences. 

'The term 'due' means that the impartiality must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation.' 

It comes after the BBC's Panorama  investigation into government provision of PPE kit for NHS staff earlier this month has sparked 793 complaints over alleged bias.

The flagship current affairs programme featured interviews with a string of medical workers who were also Left-wing activists.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden wrote to BBC director general Tony Hall with his concerns about this and another incident, asking the TV chief to 'uphold the highest standards in relation to integrity and impartiality'.

A number of doctors and nurses that Panorama decided to interview were long-time supporters of the Labour Party, but the programme was accused of giving the impression that they were neutral healthcare workers.

The programme, titled Has The Government Failed The NHS?, made a series of damaging claims about the Government's handling of the Covid-19 crisis.T he BBC has previously defended the programme and those it interviewed.