Ex-BBC journalist also argued the media failing to tackle the impact of leaving the EU “feels like a conspiracy against the British people”. / Emily Maitlis has criticised the BBC for “both-sideism” in its coverage of Brexit – suggesting its attempts to hear both sides of the argument led to “superficial balance”.

Emily Maitlis has been widely praised for her criticism of the BBC's coverage of Brexit. / “It might take our producers five minutes to find 60 economists who feared Brexit and five hours to find a sole voice who espoused it," she said. “But by the time we went on air we simply had one of each; we presented this unequal effort to our audience as balance. It wasn’t.”

‘It is arguably your political incompetence that got you here,’ Newsnight presenter suggests.

‘I do think this is rehashing a rather stale debate,’ says head of powerful foreign affairs committee – after Russia report found government ignored potential interference in 2016 vote.

'You whipped up hatred and fear with a language like that. You know what it's like to face abuse'