(never like doing that), but last time I mentioned Kirsty Wark at any length, I happened to remark, amongst other things, that ‘the public knows little (by the Beeb’s own definition) about the BBC’s ‘contacts’, and would probably be disillusioned if it did’
Now, of course, we know more about those close contacts- and what we find out is particularly disquietening, as forecast. The matter at issue is the official enquiry into the exorbitant cost of building the Scottish Parliament, and the potential subversion of that enquiry by Scotland’s most eminent female BBC presenter.
Scottish opinion here.
I noticed the familiar grating tones of Ms Wark reading out the contents warnings for Jerry Springer: The Opera.
So since when was she a continuity announcer? Or was she jumping on a bandwagon and making a statement?
yes I noticed that too and thought it was a bit odd – maybe it was to give it a bit of gravitas?
She did not “subvert” the Holyrood competition. She was flattered by Donald Dewar into being included in his hand picked committee who did nothing (everybody else did nothing as well. It was stupid but that is not subversion.
Equally the current stuff about her family holiday with McConnell is mere mudslinging. They are old family friends, one of whom is first minister & the other a major UK (not Scotland) interviewer.
There is a reasonable question as to why she is so successful with the BBC but not ITN or Sky. There is also a reasonable question whether McConnell’s wife Bridget is the best person to be Glasgow Corporation’s Art Director (Glasgow Labour is notorious for what might politely be called nepotism). These questions are not asked because they are more complicated & less photogenic.
so if kirsty did nothing, why did she wish to gag the enquiry?
‘They are old family friends, one of whom is first minister & the other a major UK (not Scotland) interviewer.’
How convenient!
Honestly, who holidays with whom has always been political issue- and this is exceptionally high-level holidaying. To do so under the current circumstances shows incredible arrogance. It doesn’t surprise me, but when it suits BBC journalists their relationship is similar to that between dog and lamppost, whereas in this case it is more like that between dog and owner.
‘Their relationship to politicians’, it should read above.
It is said that everybody in the world is 5 relationships apart & the community of successful people in Scotland is orders of magnitude smaller so people are bound to meet, however inconvenient. There really are more serious issues than accusing the Newsnight presenter of bias towards McConnell.
S I don’t know what you mean about Wark gagging the enquiry?