TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine has stepped down as the host of the annual Carers UK awards ceremony following backlash.
When Vine was announced as host of the charity’s awards on Monday, social media users voiced concerns over his eponymous talk show’s coverage of disability and welfare issues.
A petition was launched demanding that he step down from the role of host, saying that Carers UK’s choice “feels like a slap in the face to carers and those we cherish”.
Carers UK initially responded to the concerns on social media, highlighting its campaigning work fighting against stigma in daytime television targeted at those who claim disability benefits.
However, yesterday evening, Vine announced in a post on his own social media account that he would no longer be hosting the awards.
“Because I host debates about welfare, benefits etc I see I was a controversial choice to be the (obviously unpaid) host of the prestigious Carers UK awards so I'm very happy to stand aside and give someone else the honour of doing it,” he said.
Vine said that he had initially agreed to take on the role “to support a friend who watched her husband die in a long and painful process, and I didn't want to let her down”.
“I'm not a campaigner, and guests on my shows know I have to be impartial, but I'm very much aware of the vital role unpaid carers play,” he added.
“I believe we've only ever covered them sympathetically. I wish Carers UK well with their excellent event and will cheer the winners from a distance.”
In response to Vine’s decision, a Carers UK spokesperson told Civil Society: “Following discussions with Jeremy Vine, we’ve made the decision that he will no longer be hosting this year's Carers UK Awards.
“Jeremy has been incredibly supportive of Carers UK including through his radio show, and we're grateful for that support.
“But after listening carefully to our community over the past couple of days we’ve agreed with Jeremy that the focus of the evening should stay entirely on celebrating carers and the individuals and organisations that support them.”
Vine has faced criticism several times for his programme’s tone and framing of debates on disability welfare payments.
The programme asked this week whether disability benefits should be cut and people given help in kind instead.
