John Simpson defends ITV presenter Charlene White for not wearing a poppy on-air

John Simpson has defended ITV news presenter Charlene White’s decision not to wear a poppy on air after she claimed broadcasters shouldn’t have to ‘conform’.

Miss White, 38, stopped wearing the remembrance symbol on screen several years ago despite receiving a ‘torrent of racist and sexist abuse’ for doing so.

Hitting back at trolls on social media, Miss White said she did not want to favour one charity over any others.

Hitting back at trolls on social media, Miss White said she comes from a forces family and donates to the British Legion

Sharing an article she wrote in 2014 about her decision, she said on Twitter: ‘For those asking tonight – some nicely, others not… I wear a poppy off screen. 

‘I donate to the British Legion. I come from a forces family.’

BBC veteran Simpson, 74, congratulated the ITV presenter. 

BBC veteran Simpson, 74, stuck up for the ITV presenter, asking: ‘Didn’t our forces fight so that we could make up our own minds about such things?’

On Twitter, he said: ‘I too support the British Legion and wear my poppy proudly off-screen, even in countries where it can cause problems.

‘But I don’t think broadcasters should have to conform like this. 

‘Didn’t our forces fight so that we could make up our own minds about such things?’