Amnesty Drops Guido Fawkes’ Paul Staines As Media Awards Judge After Backlash

Paul Staines is editor and owner of political blog Guido Fawkes. (Screengrab via GB News/Youtube)

Amnesty International UK dropped Paul Staines as a judge Tuesday for its upcoming Media Awards, following online pressure that protested the writer’s libertarian political views.

The appointment of Staines, editor and owner of Westminster insider blog Guido Fawkes, sparked a flurry of criticism.

Iain Overton, a former BBC and ITN journalist, raised questions on Twitter about Staines’ suitability for the role, given his past remarks and positions. Overton’s post was incendiary, featuring a 2017 tweet from Staines where he is seen in bed with a cardboard cutout of Labour MP Diane Abbott, an image that many have found distasteful and at odds with the values of an organisation like Amnesty International.

Overton also highlighted the Guido Fawkes editor’s past campaign efforts in favour of reinstating the death penalty, a stance diametrically opposed to Amnesty’s strong anti-death penalty advocacy.

And in case of doubt, here's Amnesty's position on the death penalty. pic.twitter.com/PCDToXKINW

— Dr Iain Overton (@iainoverton) December 19, 2023

In a statement to Overton, Amnesty said that after review it had dropped the editor from the judging line up.

BREAKING***
Amnesty withdraws invitation to Paul Staines/Guido Fawkes to be judge on media awards.
Quote from Amnesty UK: "in light of a number of concerning posts we have withdrawn the invitation to Paul Staines be a judge on our media awards. We will be reviewing our policies…

— Dr Iain Overton (@iainoverton) December 19, 2023

Mediaite UK contacted Amnesty International for comment and confirmation on Tuesday but the organisation did not respond.

Speaking to Press Gazette, a spokesperson said: “In light of a number of concerning posts we have withdrawn the invitation to Paul Staines be a judge on our media awards. We will be reviewing our policies relating to the selecting of judges in the future.”

Press Gazette report that Staines himself was unaware of this decision until approached by the publication with no direct communication from Amnesty.

“Très amusant,” he quipped in reply to the situation.

The awards continue with a panel of other notable media figures and journalists with the aim to honour excellence in journalism, particularly in the field of human rights and dignity.