So Newsnight decided to “debate” Mandelson’s return with a panel made up exclusively of Labour supporters: first Minister Liam Byrne on his own; then the Guardian’s Polly Toynbee and the Independent’s Steve Richards. Now, why does this ring a bell? That’s right! They did the same thing when he resigned (the second time) – which even the governors admitted was biased. Some things, it seems, never change.
Thanks to dave fordwych in the comments
What can be done? What avenues of action are open to us? If it was admitted to be biased last time they pulled this stunt, evidently there are no mechanisms that prevent them from trying the same trick again. How do we get them to create one?
henryflower: Write to David Cameron I guess. The fact is the Tories can’t do anything until they win the next election.
I’m sure the Tory party is well aware of what is going on.
Try emailing Iain Dale. He has good links to the Tory party and he’s well aware of the liberal bias at the BBC.
Nice one. Well spotted dave f.
Why are any of us surprised? We know the bias exists, what can we do to end it?
Does anyone else think that having La Toynbee on is a sign that the Labour At Any Cost faction has taken the edge against the Brownite faction at the BBC, at least for the moment? I mean, I know she’s everywhere these days, but does she have a permanent seat? They could have had another FOG instead.
Nick Robinson’s blog is often a good barometer for that.
or perhaps the illuminati are running the whole show.
White whine
did you see newsnight last night?
I fear not. In that respect, I’m probably with Dave.
Hard to explain how Dave would know who was on discussing the issue if he didn’t see it, though, isn’t it?
la la la i can’t hear you
Hugh:
“Hard to explain how Dave would know who was on discussing the issue if he didn’t see it, though, isn’t it?”
Maybe he can read.
Hugh – I bet he didn’t see newsnight.
I saw newsnight that night, and it was totally biased. I was fuming that no centre right viewpoint was available to point out that Mandelson is hated by the public. He’s a failed politician, thrown out of the cabinet twice in the past. He embodies everything the public hate about politicians – not an inch of honour, integrity or honesty in their bodies. Richards in contrast labelled Brown’s move as a ‘masterstroke’. While Toynbee was voicing the opinion of the old Labour left. Still no centre right view though.
Doubtless, it will be a while before the BBC mentions that Gordon Brown, an unelected prime minister, is shovelling garbage off the old pols landfill into the cabinet with vigour. Mandelson back, which is breathtaking in itself. And also old lag, incompent, otherwise occupied David Blunkett back.
Anon, Whitewine: Did Dave Fordwych actually get it wrong, then? Thing is, I watched the show after he flagged this up, and he seems to have got it spot on: a one to one with Liam Byrne, followed by Toynbee and Richards together. It seems to me he did see it. It also seems entirely irrelevant whether he did or not. The fact remains that he’s correct: they decided the panel discussion on this should not feature any contributor that didn’t support Labour.
It’s a shame there was no Conservative on to make use of the “only known instance of a rat climbing aboard a sinking ship”
line, which deserves wider circulation and at least one outing on the BBC.