Nick Watt, a renowned editor at BBC Newsnight was the victim of a horrifying case of heckling perpetrated by a large group of anti-lockdown rioters.
UK delays lockdown lift – Here’s why
In the video clip that has since gone viral, Watt can be seen trying to escape from a group of raucous rioters who had gathered outside 10 Downing Street to demonstrate against the United Kingdom’s (UK) plans to delay the announcement of eased COVID-19 restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had delivered this blow in a televised presser on Monday, where he explained that it would be sensible to delay the lifting of restrictions by another four weeks.
According to Johnson, more time was needed to inoculate at least two-thirds of the UK population and data trends at his disposal suggested that this would be achieved by Monday 19 July 2021.
“We’re seeing cases growing by about 64% per week and in the worst affected areas, it’s doubling every week and the average number of people being admitted to a hospital in England has increased 50% week-on-week,” he said.
Of course, this was nowhere near what Brits wanted to hear. Even more, the last thing they cared for was the opinion of a person whose job description compelled him to dissect the country’s political ongoings.
Nick Watt was heckled for doing his job
Watt, as it turns out, was collateral to this lockdown delay. Consequently, a casual stroll along Downing Street which, on any other day would have been routinely peaceful for the editor, was nothing short of a horrific experience where, in a split second, he could have easily been harmed.
Fortunately, Watt was agile enough to swiftly run to safety, behind a human shield formed by public order police who were on duty to oversee the anti-lockdown picketing.
Here is the clip that’s gone viral on social media:
The tide turning: pic.twitter.com/MzgLSu7kPY
— Debbie (@OurMindsNotURS) June 14, 2021