Anyone else catch the simpering interview Evan Davis conducted with SNP doyen Nicola Sturgeon on Today this morning @8.10am? The SNP campaign to leave the Union begins today and I felt she was given such an easy ride by Evan Davis, who should know better. For example, she made continual references to Scotland “paying its way” (It doesn’t, it is a net benefactor of English tax largesse via Barnett) and “balancing the books” (It hasn’t, it has a bloated English taxpayer funded public sector) and of course it has that famous “Scottish Oil” that financially underwrites everything (It’s far from clear that Scotland has ownership of these oil wells). She then went on to claim that the bond markets would lend to an Independent Scotland at the same rate as they do to the UK currently. All these lunatic points went without challenge from a demur Davis. It’s as if the BBC are quite keen on the break up of the Union….
I don’t think “It’s as if the BBC are quite keen on the brake up of the Union.” convays the strength of feeling for Scottish independence held at the BBC, I get the feeling that if the SNP get their way the hall’s of broadcasting house will be strewn with empty scotch bottles.
Evan Davis was quite different this morning interrogating the Jewish spokesman who was complaining about the exam question asking ‘why are Jews disliked?’
He just wouldn’t or couldn’t get the point. Now if the question was about gays or immigrants the tone would have been entirely sympathetic.
It was a bit sickening to hear Davis laugh in Jon Benjamin’s face for not agreeing with him. And his semantic games were BS.
This is the same wise bitch who as yet to experience the backlash next year from her .50p minimum alcohol per unit brainwave.
Of course the likes of Davis (who is supposed to be an economist isn’t he?) never ask the following questions:
What arrangement will there be for Scotland to pay their proportion of the national debt (not defecit) that was run up through borrowing to buy Scotland as a client group for Labour?
If not paid back to the remainder of the union, how much debt will they take with them for day one of the new found independence.
Following the seperation, England, Wales and Northern Ireland will need to relocate any public sector administration based in Scotland back to the home nations. How do the SNP propose to employ them?
To what extent have the SNP explained their intentions towards Europe?
Debt repayments? Tax subsidy from England? Oil revenues? Uk Public Sector relocation? Och nae mind, yon Alec Salmond will be giving them a right brae Braveheart Theme Park to be living in!
Sorry about the terrible attempt at a Jockenese accent chaps and chappesses!
I don’t know about Evan Davis, but Justin Webb sure challenged Sturgeon on a couple of points. Being an LSE alum, he’s read about what an independent currency means, and called her out on retaining sterling. When Sturgeon said Scotland keeping the pound would be good for the UK, he even sarcastically asked if they were doing it as a favor to Britain. It was obvious he felt that Scotland was not so surefooted as the woman claimed.
It’s too bad that Webb didn’t back up any of his assertions with facts or real substance and it instead came across as opinion. I guess that’s all that’s required to play devil’s advocate. His interrupting and stepping all over her before giving her a chance to answer a couple of questions was tiresome as always, even if I agree with his opinion.
I too was angry at Evan Davis` semantics about whether it is right to explain an anti Jewish viewpoint( valid) or merely to ask the kid in the exam to “justify” an anti-Jewish position.
Jonathan Sacks should have taken his TFTD and sent Davis into orbit…no other group would be so abused on an AQA examination in RE.
The next few minutes were spent flying the Saltire c/o that Sturgeon pigmy(Wee Krankie!)…then mooching about whether it is right to withdraw funds to Al Queda/Pakistan because the Pakistanis have sentenced a whistle blower to prison…all mooching and moseying about Guardian headspace at our expense.
Pathetic I know…But Davis rainbow flag went up pretty quickly in abject surrender when he got into hot water with the Pakistan spokesman re the case.
The doctor was using vaccination as a front to catch Bin Ladens DNA for the US…and Davis dismissal of “vaccination” in a developing country had him in trouble and reversing the tandem prettysharpish.
The BBC does NOT see polio vaccination as a smokescreen for catching terrorists…no sirree…get those shots and sugar lumps…and Evan won`t talk allopathic heresy like that ever again….
reverse..reverse!
I heard that Alex Salmond is actually having a castle built a while back….
Strange how these SNP leftists are happy to talk up fossil fuels when they need to demonstrate the ‘sustainability’ of their independence argument, but will revert to a generally negative view when refering to the challenges of combatting climate change and a delivering a ‘sustainable’ future.
I wonder if their reliance on ‘Scottish Oil’ will present any conflicts with their “Vision for a Greener Scotland”…
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http://www.snp.org/vision/greener-scotland/climate-change
We all have a part to play – government, communities, businesses and individuals. We want more Scots to live in carbon neutral communities and will continue to support and encourage local and community action.
The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Act is the most ambitious in the industrialised world. Scotland is taking a global lead on the fight against climate change and is working hard with our partners across Europe, and the world, to develop green economic opportunities for Scotland and a sustainable future for our planet.
The skills to succeed in the low carbon economy – We want Scots to be well placed to seize the green energy opportunities. We will introduce Green Skills Academies, to ensure we have the right green skills mix for the future.
———————————
…there’s an awful lot of hope placed in the magic of ‘carbon sinks’ on that page. Good luck with that. Until then, with their ban on nuclear power…it’s burn baby burn…
I enjoy reading this blog but never cease to be amazed at the ignorance regarding the SNP.
The SNP are hated by the BBC and are ignored or attacked in Scotland where most of the BBC staff are ex Labour activists and pro Unionist. You will never get a pro SNP story on BBC Scotland.
Big demo at Pacific Quay in Glasgow today against BBC bias.
And no it won’t be reported by BBC Scotland.
I have to say that when I monitored the ‘Politics Show: Scotland’ from 2009-2010, the anti-SNP (and anti-Conservative) bias of its presenter, Glenn Campbell, stood out a mile. It was one of the most outrageous and blatant examples of pro-Labour bias I came across.
(You can see some of the results here:
http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Glenn%20Campbell)
The interesting thing was that the presenter disappeared from the programme at the end of that political year. I’ve always suspected that this was because his anti-SNP, pro-Labour bias was so blindingly obvious that he HAD to be replaced by an embarrassed BBC. (Of course, he could just have moved on).
If that programme was in any way typical of BBC Scotland’s behaviour then I’m not surprised you and others commenting on this thread are concerned about the BBC Scotland being anti-SNP and pro-Labour.
You’re probably right to a large degree, Jock…and we probably ought to give way to your local knowledge (I’m assuming you’re a Scot 🙂 ) Independence for Scotland would create considerable problems for Labour in England. The loss of many of those Labour seats north of the border would certainly help the nasty Tories electorally in England.
Reed… Labour would have won all of it’s elections since WW2 with no Scottish Labour MPs to help them. I checked the voting and there were 2 hung parliaments but apart from that Labour won comfortably without needing Scottish Labour. Even Tony Bliar.
Here’s a taste of what we suffer daily from the BBC in Scotland…
http://the-universality-of-cheese.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/if-trick-works-once-its-oftenwhiles.html
It’s not surprising though because the majority of BBC Scotland are ex Labour activists or labour supporting journalists. Arch Unionists mainly.
Kirsty wark used to holiday with Labour First Minister Jack O’Connel.
Scotland is stuck within the UK ( until now) because it can never outvote the Unionist majority at Westminster. The LibLabCon supported by English voters.
I like the irony of a website about the biased BBC, who are TOTALLY biased against the SNP. They’re just David Scameron’s lapdog, and there was a demonstration against them today in Scotland. People here just seem to use this venue as an excuse to air their anti-Scottish sentiments, being biased against the Scots! I will not lower myself to insult or ad hominem attacks, just thought I’d point a couple of pathetic things out. And I will never visit this site slectively biased again.
If you’d have looked a bit deeper, you’d have been made well aware of the fact that the wide range of commenters on this blog commonly express dissatisfaction with most of the political parties of the UK, Scotland and the SNP aren’t being singled out for special attention. We also have a good few Welsh and Scottish regulars, who are sufficiently robust and good humoured not to flounce off at the slightest jibe.
You also miss the crucial point – any opinions expressed here come free of charge – the bias you perceive costs you nothing. We resent being forced, with accompanying threats, to pay for bias from the BBC.
…but as you’re never visiting again…
David Vance’s introductory critique is of BBC’s Evan Davis’ ‘simpering’ interview with SNP’s Ms Sturgeon.
Mr Vance reasonably adds some critiicism of BBC omissions on the issue of Scotland’s exit from the Union, not least its effects on England.
I haven’t noticed any anti-Scotland sentiment here, but some people are less supportive of the SNP than is the BBC.
And the BBC is supposed to represent the interests of the whole of the British people.
“I haven’t noticed any anti-Scotland sentiment here”
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
Get real.
There’s anti-SNP comment. That’s different, of course.
Big demo at the biasedBBC HQ in Scotland..
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/5047-demonstration-takes-place-outside-bbc-scotland-hq-as-protestors-demand-balance
The 2 main stories in Scotland last week were the voting through of the minimum price for alcohol and the start of the Yes campaign for independence.
The BBC highlighted that labour voted against minimum pricing. Failing to mention that Scottish Labour MPs at Wastemonster will vote in favour.
For the start of the Yes campaign for independence the BBC revealed a new poll showing that 68% of Scots voted against. Failing to mention that the poll was the opposite of all other polls and was commissioned by Alastair Darling, head of the ‘No’ campaign using questions similar to ‘ do you want to get thrown into poverty with independence or stay in the Union ? ‘ etc.
This is the nonsense we have to suffer from the BBC in Scotland.
The budget for Scottish programmes has been cut to about £70m ( we pay in £400m).
£70m is about a third of what the BBC pays to get the rights to English Premiership football highlights.
Comments are not allowed on Scottish BBC blogs so thanks for allowing us to comment here.
“A free Scotland? No, it’s being fed into the Euro-blender.”
Peter HITCHENS, Jan 2012).
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2086719/Scottish-Independence-A-free-Scotland-No-fed-Euro-blender.html#ixzz1w4SHl9Es
“Energy companies deliver independent Scotland power bill warning.
“Scottish households could be left with higher power bills after independence to fund subsidies for wind and wave farms, the country’s major energy companies and the Government have indicated. ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9198271/Energy-companies-deliver-independent-Scotland-power-bill-warning.html
A word about Barnett….
Barnett delivers a slightly higher proprtion of spexcificm areas of government slending to Holyrood, not all of government spending. On balance, the reality is that Scotland contributes slightly more to the UK coffers than it gets back. This is not enitely unreasonable – some goverment spending is made outside the UK and defence (among other things) cannot simply be doled out on a pro-capita or geographical basis. Equally, Barnett includes a ‘Scottish’ share of various national programmes (Crown Prosecution/certain environmental programmes and others) which Holyrood actually deals with internally, so there is a good deal of double accounting. If Scotland is a money drain, you have to ask why Labour, Conservaitve and Glib-Dumbs are so keen to keep the union?