The BBC has been accused of smearing an MP, after it tweeted a photo of him “resting his eyes.”
However, it turned out the MP is partially deaf, and the photo clearly showed him listening to a speaker by his side.
The Guido Fawkes website reported:
The picture has been retweeted hundreds of times already. Just one problem: he was not asleep. That little thing you can see next to his ear is a speaker. Shelbrooke needed it to hear because he is partially deaf. He tells Guido:
“I am genuinely slightly deaf and struggle to hear. I had taken part in the debate and was trying to hear the wind ups. Seems a shame I get trolled due to being slightly deaf.”
Read the full story here: http://order-order.com/2015/09/15/bbc-smear-of-deaf-tory-mp-goes-viral/#:SBX5w03Jap99Zg
With thanks to Andy Palmer
Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:
The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf journalist, screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.
Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.
The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:
- BSL Zone: TV programmes in BSL for the Deaf community
- Deaf Umbrella: what support is available for deaf students?
- Bellman & Symfon: home alerting solutions, including the mobile phone transceiver!
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- SignHealth: check out the BSL health library
- 999 BSL: call 999 in an emergency, in BSL
- Appa: Looking for RSLIs, TSLIs and CSWs, apply here!
- Signly: Adding BSL to websites
- Signworld: Learn BSL online!
- DCAL: world-class research into deafness, cognition and language
- Action Deafness: “A Deaf-Led Charity” – interpreting & community support services
- Sign Solutions: Instant access to Interpreters, training and BSL translation nationwide
- InterpretersLive: On demand BSL video interpretation
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- BID: Deaf services, including advice and support, interpreting, employment and letters
- Performance Interpreting: BSL interpreting at concerts
- National Deaf Children's Society: The leading charity for deaf children
pennybsl
September 15, 2015
“I am genuinely slightly deaf and struggle to hear. I had taken part in the debate and was trying to hear the wind ups. Seems a shame I get trolled due to being slightly deaf.”
At least he is honest; this is a scenario/experience soooooooo familiar to us d/Deafies after 15 minutes’ watching several mouths from every angle, sprouting political stuff and wind-ups……………………….
Revealing, the media’s mockery.
Tim
September 16, 2015
Guido Fawkes? Any Deaf news from the Beano as well?
Neither Staines nor Shelbrooke give a damn about any other Deaf people. Snoozy Shelbrooke constantly tries to take away other Deaf people’s social security.
mjfahey
September 16, 2015
Surely this guy needs to contact access to work (ATW) to be assessed for a better way to listen to the debates. He is not doing himself any favours being seen slouching as if he is having a nap in the house when he could be using aids and loop system. Perhaps he would rather carry on the way he is…perfect excuse if he does fall asleep! As someone who is deaf I would be ashamed to being seen doing this…much better to get the right kit.
Hartmut
September 22, 2015
Well, the debates in most parliaments are as a rule booooring and rarely to the substance. The MPs are already committed to an up or down vote due to their membership in a party. WHy bother to listen? Rather take a nap and become alert quickly to vote. This Fawkes decided to conserve his eyes and brains for the strenuous lipreading tasks ahead in committee hearings or party caucuses.