Fiona Bruce quits Refuge after domestic abuse row over Stanley Johnson defence
BBC Question Time host sparks backlash
Fiona Bruce has stepped down as an ambassador for the charity Refuge following a fierce backlash over her comments on domestic violence. The BBC Question Time presenter said she was “sad” to quit but claimed her words were twisted in a social media storm.
Bruce defends Boris Johnson’s dad amid abuse claims
The controversy blew up on last week’s show when Bruce defended Stanley Johnson, father of ex-PM Boris Johnson, after he was branded a “wife-beater”. The label referenced claims in Boris biographer Tom Bower’s book, where Johnson’s late ex-wife Charlotte Wahl alleged he “hit me many times, over many years.”
Bruce argued that Johnson hadn’t publicly responded and said friends described the abuse as a “one-off incident.”
Women’s Aid slams Bruce for downplaying abuse
The charity Women’s Aid blasted Bruce’s comments, stressing domestic abuse is rarely a single event. Chief Executive Farah Nazeer insisted even one incident is deeply damaging and should never be minimised.
“People must understand the complexities and the lasting impact of domestic abuse, no matter how many times it happens,” Nazeer said.
