A journalist has provoked outrage after suggesting those unvaccinated against COVID-19 should be shipped to the Isle of Wight.
Susie Boniface, a Daily Mirror columnist, said "all the anti-vaxxers can go there, and we'll stop the ferries".
Her controversial comments were made on Channel Five's Jeremy Vine, as the panel discussed whether COVID rules go far enough.
Responding to a question from the host, Ms Boniface, who writes under the pseudonym Fleet Street Fox, said it was time the Government made being unvaccinated "socially unacceptable".
Mr Vine asked:
"Do you think they should now say to the five million [unvaccinated], I'm sorry, you've run out of excuses now. You've got to get jabbed?"
Ms Boniface responded:
"You can't make anyone do it [get jabbed] and the doctors and nurses agree, that's not a good idea. But I think we do have to make it socially unacceptable in the same way as drink-driving or something else.
"And if we're not going to do that give them the Isle of Wight or something. All the anti-vaxxers can go there and we'll stop the ferries."
Islanders took to social media to complain about her comments.
Did I just hear you say give the Isle of Wight to the unvaccinated and stop the ferries? As someone who lives on the IoW who is fully vaccinated I take great offence at that. I think you should apologise on air
— Chris Park (@cmcgp) December 9, 2021
Feckin cheek! Who is this bloody Susie woman! 🤬 How dare she say to put all unvaccinated on our beautiful Isle of Wight! We have an extremely vulnerable population, our little hospital is struggling as it is! Absolutely fuming 😡😡😡 she needs to apologise #JeremyVine
— Emma-Jayne Dacre (Lynch) (@DacreLynch) December 10, 2021
@theJeremyVine I heard what you said and agreed with about putting the unvaccinated on the Isle of Wight. 141000 people live on the island including myself and 98% of the population are vaccinated. Im absolutely disgust
— Beth Walpole (@BethWalpole7) December 12, 2021
Watch here (video courtesy of Channel Five's Jeremy Vine show).
The full episode can be watched here.
Updated
IoW a week late and no sense of humour, thereby proving my point. https://t.co/eKOLvYBI84
— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) December 13, 2021
Hi @iwightradio. Does your island ignore the journalistic standard of right of reply before publishing, or go straight for the "OUTRAGE" button? You've had a whole week, I'm easy to find, and I'd love to help you understand what a sense of humour is and where you might find one. https://t.co/eKOLvYBI84
— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) December 14, 2021
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