215 Responses to OPEN THREAD…

  1. The General says:

    A general observation here not an example of bias, but it would be good if the BBC would examine the different values of two nations who share one sub continent :-
    There has been a good deal of reporting on the rape and murder of a young woman in India and the outrage felt by the ordinary people in India.
    Had this happened in Pakistan it would not have made the news.

       41 likes

    • Hadda says:

      “Had this happened in Pakistan . . .”

      Like this, you mean?

         5 likes

      • dez says:

        Or like this:
         
        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13158001
         
        But of course it was more than a few weeks ago so “The General” doesn’t remember it so it never happened.

           4 likes

        • RCE says:

          Don’t remember it getting the same prominence as the Indian story, though.

          Unless you can show us otherwise?

             5 likes

          • johnnythefish says:

            As usual the dotis point to little-read articles on the BBC news website as equivalent to radio or television coverage broadcast to millions.

            To use a football analogy – desperate defending.

               7 likes

            • Albaman says:

              A substantial number of the posts relating to perceived bias are linked to BBC website comment.

              To use your analogy – poor attacking?

                 0 likes

        • The General says:

          Thank you for “digging” that out for me Dez. It’s not that I don’t remember it, it’s just the fact that I cannot listen to the BBC every hour of the day to hear their once only selective report on non PC items which are normally aired at 5.47am in order that their stooges can make the sort of claims that you so ably demonstrate.

             2 likes

        • Span Ows says:

          a few weeks? …one story, on the south Asia page, nearly two years ago…hmmm

             2 likes

  2. Dave666 says:

    Breakfast still banging on about the f**king Olympics (it was crap). This morning story work for nothing on the Commonwealth games whilst others make loads.

       23 likes

  3. chrisH says:

    A joy to hear Last Word last night!
    Alistair Milne died recently and is immediately given his Order of the Soviet( with matching fetching wristband and dream catcher) for sticing it to Maggie back in the 80s when the BBC Medals were being freshly minted.
    He did go to Winchester and to Balliol…so clearly the “right kind of BBC rebel”.
    Well-blow me down-his SON Seamus gives us the eulogy…Falklands, Gerry Adams and the usual tripe…and then it sinks in…this is that Guardian monkey hacksmith isnt` it?,,,surely such cliches could only come from the BBC/Guardian “Savile Partnership”…who else but a bien-pensant privilged plummy lefty of Islington couls talk such crap?
    So I look up Tribunette Milne(S)…only to find that he TOO went to Winchester College and to Balliol!
    But what else…
    Now Seamus…channel daddypoos if you like…but how then do you square your lofty privileges and shoo-ins to the media magic circles…with all your guff about the “comprehensive school”?…and do tell if your own kids will also be going to Winchester as well?
    All in the course of transparency you understand…post it to Levesons Box Number if you`re a bit coy!
    What a cant this bloke is!…wonder if the News Quiz will use that one now?

       38 likes

    • Colonel Blimp says:

      a man best described as ” unrepentant apologist for Stalinism Seumas Milne”

         12 likes

      • graphene fedora says:

        The novelist, Robert Harris, described a boy named Seu as a ‘Stalinist Rip Van Winkle’. How true. Seumas, tucked up in his surprisingly bourgeois dacha, occasionally mumbling sweet incoherent nothings in his deep totalitarian sleep as he storms, once more, the Czar’s Winter Palace, with Comrade Masonski. Yet another privileged son of the socialist aristocracy. As much use as an ashtray on an accelerating motorbike. I suspect he’s too much even for the BBC.

           16 likes

  4. chrisH says:

    Did a two hour stint this morning on Today…bloody kitten!
    Anyway-it was fascinating to see Chief Humph and Sitting Squaw Monty doing their Rainmaker dance…gathering clouds that might yet choke the Tories off at the pass…and gathering their twiglets for shaping into bow and arrows for later, should they fail to be water diviners.
    The storm clouds gathered…pensions and Pickes…disability and the old sure fire hydrant of drug legalisation being “called for”-by Longfords loopy tendency I presumed.
    Oh how the clouds darkened and they made the weather between them, ambushes getting set for Big Bear Cameron for a few hours hence….indeed Humph was getting smoke signals( dope, not ciggies I`d say) from the likes of Gompertz and O Donaghue about what to ask Cameron at the pow-wow to come. Desperate sttuff, pathetic and amateurish…does Humphrys do no research any more?
    Anyway-it all turned out to be shadowdancing, ghost dances and just dry clouds of patchouli…but two hours trying to take the weather with themselves was quite funny really…like Nroman Wisdom on tip toe in new shoes and dancing around the swimming pool-and me trying to possibly imagine what might happen next.
    I can now guess that fat Eric has been shunted-because the BBC made the weather for the day…scalped brave Robinson came in later to tell us what Big Bear had told the rest of us…but applied his astigmatic squint to it all, and expects us to have seen it as the BBC requires.
    Time to take the BBCs feathers and stiletto knives away from them…all they seem to do is throw their tired old tomahawks at themselves in the tent, and hope we`ll think the Tories did it.
    More dry weather from the BBC….all hot winds and tumbleweed!

       24 likes

  5. chrisH says:

    Will and Simon Gompertz at the BBC then?
    One in arts, the other in busiess is it?
    Cosy eh?….have we a pair of Milibands on the way here?

       19 likes

  6. chrisH says:

    And so to Belfast.
    How come every story describes it as a “row over the Union Flag”.
    It`s not-it`s about the fact that the BBCs favoured minstrels at Belfast City Hall chose to remove it out of spite from their building just to add a bit of green to it( depends on whether they spit or blow their noses).
    With absolutely no context, no reasons, no accounting for this from those weekend playful rebels that chose to slap the faces of the Unionists.
    Still-I did hear the Beeb lickspittle rather sniff at those kids who have joined it for the craic…who have decided to have a laugh…he called it “recreational rioting”, which is a phrase I rather like.
    Now if I were a Unionist…I`d nick some trainers, raid a booze outlet or two…bring a pice of cardboard and write a badly-spelt “Tory Cutz…down wid dis sorta Fing”; on it..and party like its Tottenham 2010.
    And then-it would be a legitimate grievance according to the BBC…you know, youth on the street…no hope, totally predictable etc.
    For whatever happened in 2010 in Manchester, London etc…the BBC would NEVER , ever call THAT recreational rioting…would they?

       33 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      ‘With absolutely no context, no reasons, no accounting for this’
      And here, is the BBC News.

         7 likes

  7. kayjays says:

    You could be forgiven for thinking that the Government of today is responsible for the outrageously generous wind farm contracts discussed with the sainted Margaret Hodge on Today this morning. What the less than probing interview with John Humphrys failed to reveal, was that the legislation that was drawn up and passed to enable these deals was under the previous Government of Mr Brown and was under the Minister responsible at the time, none other than Ed Miliband. Ms Hodge, ably abetted by Humphrys was keen to give the impression through omission that this is a coalition fiasco.

       51 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Good catch Comrade!
      File under PFI should we?…or was that then…and this is now?
      Anyone tell me when Labour stopped linking their woes to the previous Thatcher administration?
      My last recollection was 2007…so the Tories should have 17 years excuses…if only they were any good!

         10 likes

    • London Calling says:

      Thatcher “Milk Snatcher”- was that left-righteous Ben Elton’s phrase? Someone noted that Blair failed to reinstate it when it came to his watch. I see no attempt to tear up wind farm subsidies or to buy out PFI, on the Coalition’s watch. It may well be Labours fault for introducing them, but it is the Coalitions fault for not dismantling them now they have the chance.

         3 likes

      • johnnythefish says:

        Aren’t the wind farm agreements (with the companies who install and maintain them)contractual and therefore binding?

           5 likes

      • lojolondon says:

        The architect of Liebour’s politically-correct-BBC-friendly-scientifically-garbage failed energy policy is the current leader of the opposition, surely some mention during PMQ’s would be appropriate? eg. Windmills expected to last 25 years only last 10-15. So when they were purchased, did they come with a 25 year warranty? or??

           4 likes

      • Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:

        How do you propose the government buys out PFI contracts? Macdoom set them up, they are exactly that : Contracts!

           1 likes

        • Albaman says:

          As opposed to looking to buy out past PFI contracts the Coalition has entered into some 39 new PFI schemes since coming to power.

          The Treasury figures for PFI can be found here:
          http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm

          Incidentally PFI was initiated by John Major’s government and embraced by all governments that followed.

             0 likes

          • Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:

            Well aware of that, the question remains….how?

               1 likes

          • David Preiser (USA) says:

            Yes, but which Chancellor shifted them off the books so his Government could have more appealing budget figures (and simultaneously artificially inflating one industry)?

               1 likes

            • Albaman says:

              It is my understanding that PFI has always been “off balance sheet”.

              As successive governments have negotiated these contracts with the private sector on an individual basis then the cost of breaking the contract would depend on each PFI’s negotiated terms and conditions.

              The question as to who has benefited is complex. Without doubt the construction and defence sectors have seen a benefit through capital projects, the service sector through the management of the assets and the financial sector through providing the funding either as individual banks or consortiums.

              Whilst the cost of PFI is easily quantifiable it is less easy to quantify the impact on employment, defence capability, health and education, infrastuctrure and economic growth would have been had more “traditional” funding methods been followed.

                 0 likes

              • David Preiser (USA) says:

                Technically, yes. I should have been more clear. But it was Gordon Brown who used it to shift all that public sector spending off the books, increasing hidden debt, turning it into something it was never meant to be, as explained here and here.

                   2 likes

                • Albaman says:

                  No real disagreement with either of these articles. The question does however remain (for any political party) – how do you finance the replacement of deteriorating infrastructure? Private business finances this by either going to the bank and getting a term loan or by going to the shareholders for more capital. Either way the asset will appear on the balance sheet along with the associated liability. Governments could do much the same but how palatable would that be to the the “market”?

                     1 likes

          • Span Ows says:

            “Incidentally PFI was initiated by John Major’s government and embraced by all governments that followed.”

            purleeze. As I have posted at least a couple of times the PFI history is well known and trying to colour all governments the same is pure rot.

            The origin of rules for private capital for public projects were formulated as long ago as 1981 when they were released by Leon Brittan, for a decade though they were mainly on the back-boiler because the 1980s there was the feeling that PFI schemes were usually /would end up being far more expensive (hmmm, funny how that got pushed aside later). By 1992 the recession and different thinking on payment/finance etc changed the outlook and Norman Lamont reintroduced the idea where ‘good value for money’ was assured and that all risk risk stayed with the private sector. To this end the Treasury began to refuse to approve public spending on capital projects unless the private finance option had been fully explored (perfectly sensible). Come 1995 Kenneth Clarke announced £9.4 billion of priority projects. The plan was for the total value of signed PFI projects to rise from around £100 million to almost £800 million annually by the early 2000s, i.e. less than a billion per year was the plan. So, the known and planned total of up to 15 billion total was the entirety of Conservative plans.

            As of last year the total is about 240 billion. A decade of New Labour shite and the RAPE of Prudence by Brown.

               5 likes

  8. AsISeeIt says:

    You’re watching the BBC. We like Labour, we loved NEW Labour. You liked My Family, you’ll love MY NEW FAMILY.
    So let’s return to somewhere near Salford to rejoin the BBC’s ground breaking popular comedy.
    Owen Jones and Laurie Penny are still busy getting ready for a night out on the town. Our two young lefties are squabbling as usual.
    ‘So Owen, where exactly do you and your Chavvy mates suppose you’re going that could possibly be more important than ME?’
    ‘Not telling! It’s somewhere really cool – recommended by Uncle Evan Davis. And you’ve got false preconceptions about Chavs. So nurh! Anyway, once we catch up with the progressive Scottish Government’s minimum alcohol pricing policy it will discourage us from preloading’
    (The studio audience – just bussed in from Question Time – applaud vigorously at this mention of State intervention)
    ‘He may stop preloading, but they won’t ever discourage Owen and his Chavs from FREE-loading!’ (The audience gasp at this edgy somewhat un-PC and out-of-character comment from Laurie)
    ‘Ooooh get you! At least I’ve never been a gender traitor and dabbled with burlesque dancing!’
    ‘Mum, Oweh
    n is now literally physically assaulting me! As a woman!’
    Mum (Clare Balding): Do calm down Laurie. I’m trying to watch my Olympics DVD here. Just look at the sweat glistening on the flanks of that fine black stallion, talk about fetlocks – just look at those bulging brown bloodshot eyes – I do so enjoy the men’s 5000 meters. Owen can’t hurt you, he’s just a camp chippy little twerp. Neither of you are what I would call Britain’s Brightest! Anyway, he can’t possibly be “literally” “physically” assaulting you….because he’s still upstairs hogging the bathroom whilst I notice you’re down here trying on a pair of my builder’s dungarees – which you can’t wear by the way – not without a wash first.
    ‘Mum, they do look a bit smeared with diesel – or is that horse sweat?’
    ‘I meant you need the wash!’
    ‘Well…. well, yesterday Owen did literally physically assault me – on Facebook – and that’s a hate crime. If you and the Tory-led Government won’t protect me I‘m definitely going to have to phone JK Rowling! Or better still Hugh Grant of Hacked Off. See if I don’t. They’ll soon tell you!’
    (The audience – just bussed in from Question Time – applaud in warm recognition of some of their most favourite millionaire social commentators)
    Dad (Richard Bacon): Shush! How can I concentrate on my Twitter-feed with all this noise? All this fuss – it’s just like what Paul Mason calls ‘anger and protest’ but do we have to have it in the home? I’m beginning to feel just like (hash tag) one of society’s most vulnerable. Anymore and I’ll take this right to the top. I’ll tell Auntie Polly Toynbee. You’ll all be sorry when this year there’s no invite for our usual two weeks at her villa in Tuscany.
    The entire cast, somewhat abashed, now join hands to chant in unison the show’s famous and heart-warming closing catchphrase:
    ‘All this nonsense could never happen…. under a Labour Government!’
    The audience as one say ‘Aaaaaahhhhh…bless’. Where ever would we be without these lovable and so typically British folk brought to us courtesy of the BBC?

       38 likes

  9. Frank Words says:

    I read today that the New Broadcasting House has a special underground bunker newsroom that is bomb proof.

    Part of the £1b refurbishment according to the Daily Mail.

    It would be terrible if the nation wasn’t able to hear Evan Davis interview Owen Jones in a time of crisis.

    I’m glad this has been sorted out…….

       24 likes

    • The General says:

      What and underground bunker to prevent them being bummed !!! Ridiculous.

         13 likes

    • Albaman says:

      Nothing new in this. The network of (now no longer) secret bunkers across the UK all had broadcasting studios within them.

      To ensure resilience in a time of emergency I would be surprised if this was the only broadcasting facility of this type available to the BBC and the government.

         0 likes

  10. uncle bup says:

    Ain’t heard it for a while but I imagine that Gameshow Nikki had the good grace and decency to finally apologise to Lord McAlpine for his

    ‘Yerve only gorra google Thatcher ‘n’ paedophile’.

    And equally, because that’s the kind of man he is and the sort of company he works for, that Gameshow sent fulsome apologies to every Conservative politician who came on his (sniggers) ‘show’ only to be greeted with a howl of,

    ‘buworrabou andrew mitchell’

    ‘usain the pleece lied’

    ‘wywoo the pleece lie’.

    I know he’s apologised.

    Because that’s the decent thing to do.

    The right thing to do.

    The honourable thing to do.

    Well done Gameshow.

    Huzzah.

    Yer a credi’ to the BBC.

       23 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Apology eh?
      No doubt sincere.
      And that is the end of it no doubt… moving on…
      Unless, of course, it’s the wrong kind of apologiser on the line.

         12 likes

    • uncle bup says:

      … except he hasn’t apologised and never will.

      Keeping his head down and hoping it goes away.

         6 likes

  11. noggin says:

    come the revolution comrades … 😀 allah akbar to that.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261615/BBC-bunker-News-studios-built-bomb-proof-room-protect-suicide-attacks.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

    BBC bunker:
    News studios built in bomb proof room to protect it from suicide attacks
    daily mail

       15 likes

    • Richard Pinder says:

      The BBC does not discriminate against Muslims, so the suicide bomber should have easy access, hopefully.

         8 likes

    • Reed says:

      …so they have no excuse next time another ‘mo cartoons’ controversy flares up for not publish the ‘offending’ images on the grounds of ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶b̶o̶m̶b̶e̶d̶ not compounding the offense.

         4 likes

    • +james says:

      Bunker eh? Cue Downfall parody

         4 likes

  12. AsISeeIt says:

    Vicky Derbyshire is now busy attempting to teach us all to say:

    ‘The Bedroom Tax’.

    Benefit Reform ‘¡No pasarán!’

       6 likes

  13. Edited Highlights says:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20998800

    The BBC has got the answer as to why we can’t recruit enough young police officers! Yes, you guessed – it’s those evil Tories and their nasty cuts!

    ‘It is because we have not recruited officers for the past three years – a direct consequence of the funding reductions imposed through the Comprehensive Spending Review’

    Nothing of course to do with 13 years of a Labour government undermining the authority of the police, and the criminal justice system together with a nonstop supply of left-wing ‘human-rights’ lawyers ready to hammer the police at every available opportunity and make their job nearly impossible. No, no room for that viewpoint! It’s all these cuts you see, by those evil, nasty Tories!!!

    Some helpful advice for the Police here too. We need to ‘police by consent’, with police officers who can ‘engage with younger people’ and have ‘life skills’. How lovely being a police officer on the streets of Britain must be from the comfort of your armchair at the BBC!

       17 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      I notice the thread closed after 48hrs.
      And just as some were asking some awkward questions of the BBC back.
      Ironic really, given the means they adopted to hold power to account.

         15 likes

    • Mat says:

      ‘fall in the number of officers aged under 26’
      Cannot be arsed to read all the bilge in the article but do they mention that any officer who was 24 /25/26 over the last 3 years is now over 26 so they have to be factored out? plus it isn’t cuts in the police it’s contempt for the police that’s stopping recruitment I mean after all the scandals and cover up’s who really at 18 would feel happy to join

         6 likes

    • uncle bup says:

      The review into policing in the UK by the RUC’s Ronnie O’ Hooligan a few years back concluded that, I forget, 80% of our police’s work-load could be done by civilian staff.

      As ever the real problem with the public sector lies in the inefficiency, the spanish practices, the feather-bedding and utter utter waste.

      The ‘brothers’ always think the solution to inadequate services caused by wasting money is to throw more money at it.

      In fact the opposite is true.

         10 likes

    • Joshaw says:

      So, according to the BBC, I should be not seeing more coppers on the beat?

      They don’t do much anyway.

         2 likes

  14. George R says:

    “BBC employs 147 PR staff: ‘Is that really appropriate? I think it’s outrageous'”
    By William Turvill.

    http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/bbc-employs-147-pr-staff-really-appropriate-i-think-it%E2%80%99s-outrageous?

       18 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Given The Beeb’s history of delivery with market rate howlers first, it’s not so much the numbers (though they do add up), but the results.
      Presuming they are not operating on a no such thing as bad basis, their efforts seem to have been less than stellar in this regard.
      In fact, the BBC is making another actually look good, even when they spend a lot of time themselves trying to make it look bad, as only a uniquely funded public sector petulant child can.
      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9800054/Ryanair-shortlist-of-10-for-the-worst-job-in-PR.html

         5 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:

      Even more outrageous is the fact that the BBC’s Head of Communications still has his high-paying job and lucrative pension scheme after declaring that he would “drip poison” about the Newsnight journalist who raised a fuss about spiking the Savile story. Or, perhaps it’s not so outrageous after all, since his job is clearly to protect the BBC rather than inform the public.

         7 likes

  15. deegee says:

    Some more on the Gaza farmer/student shot near or not so near Jabaliya. From the previous open thread

    Accuracy issues in BBC report on death of Gaza ‘farmer’
    Not near Jabaliya – probably not a farmer – not alone – not just near the fence but damaging it – not alone – probably not a farmer but may have been a student – not alone.

    Anwar al Mamlouk was given a Fatah funeral, with his body wrapped in the Fatah flag, attendees carrying Fatah flags and an official Fatah poster made in his honour. I suppose that is consistent with either the farmer or student stories.

    One would think that knowing that every Israel related piece is checked that the BBC would fact check themselves – but no.

       13 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:

      It’s quite simple: the BBC trusts Hamas more than they trust Israel. It’s one of the reasons why Donnison tweeted that fraudulent photo. They – the Beeboids – don’t have to be accurate; they just need to give you the appropriate impression of what’s going on. Reporting that the evil Israelis killed a farmer near a refugee camp may not be accurate, but it does reflect what the BBC sees as the big picture of Israel shooting Palestinians from time to time. Fake, but accurate. Same for Donnison tweeting that photo. It was a fraud, but reflected what Donnison saw as the tragedy of Israeli oppression. So he tweeted it with no regrets, phony or not. The Israeli condemnation is a badge of honor for him.

         11 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:

      In this new report about another Palestinian getting killed by the IDF, the BBC tacks on bonus killings, including one where Israel says they had no involvement.

      Palestinian student killed near West Bank barrier

      You can tell the Beeboids are having difficulty squaring their moral compass with journalistic integrity from the way this news brief scrambles around to provide a balance of viewpoints. It’s so sad that it’s come to this, really. By doing this he said/she said format, and even appealing to Reuters for some sort of authority on what actually happened, the BBC has successfully equated Israel’s trustworthiness with that of Hamas. I.E. none whatsoever, even though the Palestinians have been caught out in fakery and deceit far more than the Israelis. The BBC editorial policy on the conflict in action, really.

      Anyhow, here’s how the BBC is now reporting yesterday’s incident.

      Palestinian medics in Gaza said on Monday that a 21-year-old Palestinian farmer was killed by Israeli fire in northern Gaza, but the Israeli army denied any involvement in that incident.

      So why bother reporting it at all, BBC? If you’re not sure, how does this help your audience make sense of the situation? It helps lead them to the impression the BBC wants, though.

      I appreciate that this is a difficult environment to work in. But seriously, how much more fakery has there been from the Palestinians than Israel? Are the Beeboids just trying to stand up to Israeli pressure, and so just report any old crap to piss them off? Or is it due to the BBC’s fear of appearing too pro-Israel? They get complaints from both sides, you know, and we know which side makes them build bunkers.

         3 likes

  16. AsISeeIt says:

    The BBC are anxious to tell us about ‘British girl’ Imani Green ‘from Balham, south London’ and her ‘sickle cell anaemia’ and ‘permission by the school for her extended trip to Jamaica’.

    God rest the child’s soul.

    However, would that we could all avail ourselves with a month off work in the Caribbean.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21008189

    The Beeb not quite so quick to tell about ‘Jamaica’s national security minister has blamed a “lottery scam” for the killing of an eight-year-old schoolgirl who was shot dead by a hooded gunman last Friday. (Seems Channel 4 News was tipped the wink).

    http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/lottery-scam-root-8-year-olds-shooting-jamaica

    Lottery Scam?

    ‘TEN of thousands of calls are made daily from Jamaica into the US attempting to defraud American citizens, by one estimate.’

    Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Lottery-scams-unbounded_12941123#ixzz2HxNb1vxg

    Any UK connection?

    “The reach of these criminals, however, is not limited to any bounded space and the US and the UK may only be the popular targets due to the convenience of language.”

       15 likes

    • lojolondon says:

      Not knowing much about sickle-cell disease, I Googled for the symptoms and treatment, it turns out the condition is exacerbated by high and low temperatures, no mention of moving to a warmer climate. So I wonder which doctor signed off an extended holiday in Jamaica for this unfortunate girl, bearing in mind how hard it is to get permission to take a child out of school for just a day or two??

         6 likes

      • johnnythefish says:

        Extended holidays granted for ‘cultural reasons’ could be an interesting statistic.

           4 likes

  17. Umbongo says:

    Although the difference in the aggressiveness of the questioning is marked, there really is no difference between the Today interviews of the present PM and the last unlamented one. Frankly, what does Humphrys expect from the same old same old questions except the same old same old answers? and that’s exactly what he and we got this morning. There were no “surprises”: Cameron played a dead bat to all the predictable lobs (there were no bouncers or googlies). For instance, did Humphrys really think that Cameron was going to be explicit about the question which might or might not be posed in a possible EU referendum – or, indeed, whether there is going to be a referendum at all?

    As ChrisH implies above – and he did 2 hours on Today-watch this morning – despite the extent of anti-coalition preparation, Humphrys didn’t lay a glove on Cameron, let alone stage a decent (or any) ambush. Why should we bother to listen? Cameron came out of this looking no worse and no better than he went into it and, more to the point, the punters were none the wiser. This wasn’t bias. It was simply BBC-signature boring, incompetent faux-journalism from the BBC’s “flagship” news/current affairs programme.

       10 likes

  18. Louis Robinson says:

    There was a startling use of non-PC language on the BBC World Service (and later the BBC website) this week.

    Usually when discussing abortion, the Beeb follows the rule book and couches the vile act in feminist terms: “a woman’s right to choose”. When asked about when life begins the supporters of abortion (as a contraceptive) default to the “choice” defence.

    However a new word to the BBC was used when discussing abortion with reference the appalling treatment of women in India caused by the scarcity of marriageable age girls in some parts of the sub-continent.

    “The UN children’s agency Unicef says it’s a problem of “genocide proportions”. 50 million women are missing in India because of female foeticide and infanticide – the killing of baby girls. ”

    “Foeticide”!?! That made me sit up when I heard it.

    Admittedly the potent word is qualified by “female” and “infanticide” is defined as “the killing of baby GIRLS”. But surely, the emergence of the term “foetcide” cannot be restricted to gender issues for long. The suffix-icide is gender neutral (?) and added to a word to imply “to fell or to kill.” Other examples include homicide, genocide, infanticide, matricide, and regicide.

    Surely the term is something the “choice” lobby will try to (forgive the choice of words) kill. A sentence which includes the word “genocide” would also worry “feminists”. Added to which it is their beloved “United nations” that makes the statement.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20938125

    I wonder if the harpies of R4 have seen the danger to their ivory tower – and what is more, the danger is from within. Words are important. Argument is stifled by censorship. I wonder if reporter Natalia Antelava and her producer have already been told to watch their language.

       13 likes

  19. Privatise the BBBC says:

    Daily Politics today. The question was on whether a referendum on our place in Europe shouldn’t be an in/out referendum instead.
    3 guests from the first, second and fourth (polling) political parties where each one said that an in/out referendum would be wrong and anyway, it is not the right time for it.
    There you are – the limits of the debate have been set for the duration of the item and at the same time, ‘good’ reasons were put across with no argument from the chair as to why in/out was a very bad thing.

       23 likes

  20. Leha says:

    5dead vox pop in the streets of London on the in/out of Europe debate, vox pop 1. – A business manager of Nestle Europe given free reign on the reasons why we should stay in.
    Vox pop 2 – a taxi driver who wanted to get out, but didn’t know quite why (inteviewer thought this quite funny)

    bBC wankers

       25 likes

    • Joshaw says:

      Old BBC trick, this.

      Maintain “balance” by broadcasting both points of view, but ensure that the right of centre one looks rediculous.

      I recall Barbara Cartland being used like this on more than one occasion.

         10 likes

  21. stewart says:

    BBC 4 Last night 21:00hrs Mark Lawson talks to Patrick Moore.
    Recorded in 2007 but not shown (why?) Not only a reminder of what has been lost ,but a master class in how to stop interviewer from setting agenda without looking like a pretentious prima donna (Quentin Tarantino and Krishnan Guru-Murthy Channel 4 News Thurs 10th)
    Interestingly Moore made point of his not being part of BBC establishment. Worth watching.

       16 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Agree entirely.
      The last of the gentleman amateurs who did pure science without the likes of Harrabin, Donaldson, Nutt to spin him or lean on him to ensure compliance and funding.
      Wouldn`t you have thought that his science and story would have interested Lawson enough without the ongoing efforts to make him out to be sexist, racist, or right wing etc, etc?
      The BBC continue to blunt their noses on parked cars, but yap on nonetheless.
      They clearly prefer to “out” their perceived right wing enemy in soft ambush interviews by stealth like this one-as opposed to asking Mel, Peter Douglas, Christopher, Ann etc on as bona fide “right wingers” who would just love to plaster the BBC lefties all over the place.
      But are never given the forum…way too clever for the reflex libbys like those at the BBC!

         10 likes

    • Llew says:

      But did you catch the nasty bit of bias in Mark Lawson’s voice-over – 44:27 in?

      “Some of his personal opinions have led people to wonder what planet he’s on, he supports the United Kingdom Independance Party, which campaigns against ties with Europe and in favour of immigration controls…”

      Nice. So there you have the BBC’s view, if you are against ties with Europe or you want tighter immigration controls or just happen to be a member of UKIP, you are on a different planet.

      I am trying hard to remember when, on the BBC, someone who is a member of the Green Party or even just Labour, has been likened to being on a different planet or is controversial or described in that rather insulting way?

      Although the interview was recorded in 2007, that voice-over might have been added at any time since then and it could have easily been edited out before transmission.

      i-Player Link

         18 likes

      • Phil Ford says:

        Spot-on, Llew. I, too, took exception at Lawson’s sneering words when describing the late Mr Moore’s membership of UKIP.

        Still, it’s not as if the BBC hadn’t already just recently taken a cheap shot at UKIP – did anyone catch the most recent edition of ‘This Week’ last Thursday evening? Some talentless, wholly unfunny ‘comedienne’ (and I use the term very loosely indeed) going by the oddly appropriate name of Amy Lame was permitted to describe UKIP supporters as ‘…vile, just vile.’

        See it here on i-Player

        Not one of the three gents in the studio before her – Andrew Neil, Michael Portillo and Alan Johnson – uttered one word of criticism at her inappripriate outburt. Not one.

           4 likes

      • dez says:

        “…the BBC’s view, if you are against ties with Europe or you want tighter immigration controls or just happen to be a member of UKIP, you are on a different planet.”
         
        Or, as Lawson’s commentary went on to say (which you chose to edit); “… Moore’s autobiography contains provocative complaints about gender and racial equality… and about the BBC being taken over by women”.
         
        Indeed Moore said in a recent interview; “There may be another war. The Germans will try again, given another chance. A Kraut is a Kraut is a Kraut. And the only good Kraut is a dead Kraut.”

           7 likes

        • Andy S. says:

          Links Dez? Anyway it’s Lawson who says Patrick Moore’s comments in his autobiography are “provocative”. Tell us Dez why do lefties sneer at anyone holding different views to themselves? Where’s the famous leftie mantra of “tolerance” and “diversity” in this respect?

          The centre ground of political thought in this country has moved so far to the left that anyone who doesn’t adhere to the left wing orthodoxy has to be portrayed as an enemy of society.

          So what if Patrick Moore did hold views about limiting immigration and was an old fashioned, patriotic Englishman? Why should he be smeared and vilified ( as he was in his recent Guardian obituary)?

          In my experience the most racist, homophobic people I’ve ever encountered were working class Labour supporters.

          It seems you, Dez, would like to suppress, through public vilification and ridicule, any view or opinion that doesn’t conform with Left Wing orthodoxy.

          You are one scary person Dez!

             14 likes

        • RCE says:

          So Dez acknowledges that the bit about supporting UKIP was sandwiched between asking what planet he’s on and ‘provocative complaints about gender and racial equality… and about the BBC being taken over by women.’?

          Wasn’t that Llew’s point?

             5 likes

        • johnnythefish says:

          ‘BBC employs 147 publicity staff’.

          Dez couldn’t be….surely not…….well, follow the evidence, as they say.

             2 likes

        • bill says:

          “There may be another war. The Germans will try again, given another chance. A Kraut is a Kraut is a Kraut. And the only good Kraut is a dead Kraut.”

          If my fiancé had been killed by German bombs then I dare say I’d feel the same. It’s not our place to lecture the war generation on how they should feel towards Europe.

             6 likes

          • johnnythefish says:

            My father and others of his generation that I knew only ever talked in terms of fighting ‘the Germans’. The modern language of fighting ‘fascism’ or ‘nazism’ favoured by the BBC is a historical reconstruction by the Europhile Left.

               5 likes

  22. noggin says:

    anoon chimp r. bacon has “le grande menteur” himself
    f. gardiner on, to get everything wrong, about the mali situation.
    after a clear threat to strike on french soil … not a problem 😀
    says frank, as any malians, would have to travel all the way to france 😀

    does he not know nearly 10% of france is muslim? … there is a sizeable malian group already in france?
    they have a growing and present issue both with subversive muslim groups, and with muslim dissent and violence, particulary in the paris suburbs but in other cities too?

    anyway … bacon blurts out, i always feel better, and things are much clearer when frank has explained them … (shakes head) …
    back to the bunker frank 😀

       11 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      Now That’s What I Call Mali

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01105tx

      Be fair, this is a tricky one for young Beeboids to understand:

      France = Socialist x France / Islam = Intervention

         6 likes

      • graphene fedora says:

        Yes, it would be ironic if Hollande, his hand forced by retaliation on French soil for the Mali/Somalia interventions, was the politician to take on the murderous, heavily-armed muslim criminal/terrorist gangs in the Parisian suburbs, & elsewhere. The scale of the problem is immense, & requires much more than an insouciant Gallic shrug: that option is fast disappearing. The task will have to be done, preferably sooner, rather than later. It will be undoubtedly violent, remember what a lone terrorist achieved in Toulouse last year. And it will involve the army, as well as police. Very dangerous days for France. Of course, many Malians will be delighted to see the back of the Islamic thugs that have invaded their country, but the lunatic fringe on the peripheries of French cities will be up in arms & looking to exact revenge.
        An attempt to regain control began last August, but now it may well have to seriously speed up, & broaden its scope.
        http://gatestoneinstitute.org/3305/france-no-go-zones

           4 likes

  23. Dudley says:

    Completely different….”In it to win it” is Saturday night BBC quiz supporting the National Lottery. However, the rules make the game the same as the BBC loved Socialism. Last Saurday a woman contestant answers questions correctly and puts £40k into the pot. Another contestant puts in £20k…total £60k. A third contestent gets into game at last minute…zero money into the pot but he has a chance to share the £60k. His question (he is from Sussex) is “which County is Gatwick Airport in? Unsurprisingly he gets it right. The woman who has put in £40k gets a real googly of a question…gets it wrong and walks away with nothing! The moral is put nothing in and get a lot out……put a lot in and get nothing out. Good system eh?

       17 likes

  24. AsISeeIt says:

    Tim Brooke-Taylor today revealed ‘outside influences’ led to the censorship of a long-running joke on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue

    ‘The mere mention of Lionel Blair will often bring roars of laughter in anticipation of an outrageous double-entendre based on his supposed homosexuality (he is not gay).’

    Former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon pressed the former Goodie as to whether it was Lionel Blair who had objected. No of course you already know the punch line – it was our BBC who killed off the wrong type of comedy.

       14 likes

  25. Guest Who says:

    The Editors returns after the school hols!
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2013/01/bbc_world_news_moves_to_broadc.html
    Sadly, no Hugs to share what it feels like to be back on the bench.
    The comments might have gone a wee bit better so far.
    I wonder when they’ll pull this one?

       2 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:

      And in an era when bad mortgages in the US can trigger a global economic meltdown, we know there is a huge appetite for world news delivered fast, accurately and objectively.

      There is. Shame the BBC can’t really provide it, especially when it comes to certain regions.

         4 likes

  26. RCE says:

    At it again on R4 6 o’clock news.

    Boundary changes “will make it easier for the Tories to win seats.”

    Those nasty Tories, corrupting democracy.

       11 likes

    • Llew says:

      …”but don’t worry peeps, we will make sure they don’t”…

         9 likes

    • Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

      There’s a more egregious example of bBBC bias in their ‘news’ webpage saying that (Labour peer) Lord Hart had won cross-party support for his proposed amendment (blocking the constituency changes).
      Cross-party support would normally imply a degree of agreement across all parties. What the bBBC mean is that the Conservatives’ opponents voted together to keep the present undemocratic system.

         10 likes

    • johnnythefish says:

      What you rarely hear – if at all – on the BBC, is the undeniable fact that the Tories need (something like) 8% more of the votes than Labour to end up with an equal number of seats. The way it was put on the 6am news was pure unadulterated bias.

      (What you never hear either is any mention of ‘The West Lothian Question’.)

         4 likes

  27. Teddy Bear says:

    When I first saw this article in The Commentator
    Biased BBC: Curious case of the forgotten smoking ban
    I assumed from the accusation of bias in the headline was because they blamed taxation, and thereby the present government for the decline of pubs in this country. However, when I read the BBC article linked to, they do actually state Tax has increased by 40% since 2008, when Gordon Brown introduced a 2% above inflation annual rise. The so-called beer escalator now means 30% of what you pay goes direct to the government.

    Perhaps it’s the case that when you usually only seek the facts that will support a particular agenda, as the BBC appears to regard their purpose for existence, it becomes the norm not to bother seeking out the facts for any story.

       5 likes

  28. David Preiser (USA) says:

    For once, Mark Mardell has produced a fair, nearly unbiased report. After simply guessing based purely on emotion that guns kill more people than cars (he was quite wrong), he’s moved on to one of those scary gun shows. In a refreshing move, he simply lets the people speak for themselves.

    You’ll find more reality about gun laws and straight policy substance here than in nearly all other BBC reporting on the issue combined. Mardell doesn’t sneer, doesn’t offer his opinion on his interview subjects or on their positions, and doesn’t even try to portray them as dangerous freaks. So you see, it can be done. I’m only highlighting this one because it stands out like a sore thumb amongst Mardell’s and the BBC’s output on all US issues. Seriously, read the article and notice just how much information about gun reality is there which you’ve never heard from the BBC before.

    Of course, at one point Mardell does state that the term “assault weapon” is what opponents call them. He uses the term himself, and even the gun advocates themselves use “AR” as shorthand for it, proving that the Left – particularly the Left-wing media – pretty much controls the debate. If you’re using your opponents’ terminology, you’ve already lost the argument.

    If Mardell is capable of actually honest and unbiased reporting, why can’t he do it more often? Why the sudden change? Is he reacting to criticism? Have there been complaints about his blatant bias on the issue, causing him to clean up his act for a day or two?

       4 likes

  29. Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

    Not so much biased, just the bBBC’s usual dumbing-down. Tonight’s EggHeads, a BBC2 programme for two teams of quiz-players, had a round on the subject of ‘politics’. The first two questions were ‘What was the name for the drink-and-sex parties held by Silvio Berlusconi?’ and ‘Which MP declined her nomination for 2012 Rear of the Year?’!
    They should have got their own political correspondents to answer, with their deep knowledge of ‘politics’.

       13 likes

  30. Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

    Germans united in regret over Britain’s EU stance, where ‘united’ appears to mean that Mark Urban, the bBBC’s Diplomatic and defence editor, Newsnight talked to four people who agreed with what he told them.

       16 likes

  31. chrisH says:

    A nasty little programme on Radio 4 at 11 a.m this morning.
    It was about how the Communist Party not only managed to hide its Moscow money in all manner of tax-efficient/hidden ways; but exerted its weasel influence on the Pink pygmies of the Revolution like Kinnock and Blair…as if such empty vessels would be hard to twist into what we all ended up getting, and paying for.
    Usual moles and monkeys like Aaronovitch, Bea Campbell and Mulgan at Demos…but yet no mention of Militant, of Livinston, McNulty Reid, Mandelson and other Red Wedgies.
    You`d think that they`d all be proud now that their “ideas” have been so adopted by the Labour Pirate ship…but no mention of Stalin except in the briefest, civil terms.
    Utter self-congratulatory creepy stuff…but at least we know how how to pronounce Martin Jacques( it`s as in Hattie, not in Freres Jacques, when next you need to know).
    Welcome to Pyonyangs bitch and stitch-our BBC!

       15 likes

  32. George R says:

    British licencepayers: paying for BBC-NUJ’s global propaganda expanding empire:-

    “BBC World News goes upmarket with move to £1bn London headquarters.
    “Relocation signals new era for channel, which is being given a revamp and new presenters to boost its global appeal.”

    By Tara Conlan.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/14/bbc-world-news-broadcasting-house?

       6 likes

    • Wild says:

      Because, given a choice, so few people want to buy The Guardian/The Observer/The New Statesman, it is no surprise that the kindly and freedom loving middle class Left are such keen advocates of compulsory funding of the BBC.

      The question “Why should I be forced to fund the Labour Party supporting BBC?” is one of those questions like “Why in a democracy should there not be a referendum on our membership of the EU?” or “Why are high taxes better than low taxes?” or “What evidence is there that the Public Sector is more efficient and offers better a service than the Private Sector?” that you are not meant to ask.

      The BBC does it’s best to make even asking the question a thought crime.

      BBC = Educating the public that slavery to the Left is progress to the future.

         9 likes

  33. George R says:

    Beeboid ‘leftist’ attitudes on freedom are similar to those of ‘Guardian-Observer’.

    “The Observer’s decision to censor Julie Burchill is a disgrace”

    By Toby Young.

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100198095/the-observers-decision-to-censor-julie-burchill-is-a-disgrace/

       6 likes

    • Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

      But the criminal offence of insulting someone is to be dropped. One small step for freedom of speech.
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21020737

         8 likes

    • dez says:

      “Beeboid ‘leftist’ attitudes on freedom…”
       
      Which is different to this blog blocking certain posters… how exactly? Duh.

         3 likes

      • Reed says:

        About 4.7 billion compulsory degrees of difference and a charter on top of that.

           6 likes

      • RCE says:

        You don’t have to pay for this blog.

        For crying out loud, how many times…

           7 likes

        • dez says:

          You don’t have to pay for The Guardian-Observer either. One more time, try again!

             6 likes

        • Guest Who says:

          ‘For crying out loud, how many times…’
          It’s either an adherence to ‘repeat it often enough…’ or a fine example of ‘repeating in hope of a different result’… or a combo of the two.
          Whichever way, it fits.

             5 likes

      • David Preiser (USA) says:

        If dez is referring to David Vance trying to block Nicked emus, that was about DV getting tired of constant personal abuse, and Nicked contacting the BBC directly and trying to get him banned from the airwaves for – as Nicked put it – running a hate site, simply because certain comments weren’t deleted. Nothing to do with Nicked’s political views or positions on major issues of the day. Whether you agree with DV’s decision to ban or not, there is a fundamental difference. I don’t expect dez to see it, though.

           8 likes

    • Joshaw says:

      There’s no such thing as a transsexual anyway, unless they’ve found a way of changing their DNA.

         4 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      The left, particularly their mouthpieces the Guardian/BBC axis, really can’t afford to have these outbreaks of inter-minority group spats. Since the words socialism and marxism fell out of Common Purpose – sorry common parlance, their former users have been on very nice little earners on all manor of quangos. Don’t rock the boat luvs! Sort out your victim group heirarchy then come back to the table.

         13 likes

  34. Hugh Oxford says:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21022141

    Factual inaccuracy or bias? “Christians refuse to marry gay people”. Really? Has a Christian ever sought to establish the sexual orientation of a bride or groom before agreeing or declining to marry them?

       6 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Hugh, may I ask… you quote “Christians refuse to marry gay people” which, given the BBC’s current stellar competencies with religious reporting and headline drafting already raised an eyebrow.
      Thing is, what you link to says: “European court to rule on UK Christians’ discrimination claims”
      Has the headline been ‘evolved’? In fact it seems about another topic.

         4 likes

  35. David Lamb says:

    Teresa May proposes to remove the crime of insulting words. Meanwhile the Cameron policy of Islam appeasement continues with the arrest of EDL Kevin Carroll for describing Islam as a ‘devil spawned death cult’
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21020737

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/joint-leader-of-english-defence-league-kevin-carroll-arrested-on-suspicion-of-race-hate-crime-8451082.html
    Be warned. The Cameron multikulty stasi might poke their noses into this site. Is it over for the UK?

       11 likes

  36. noggin says:

    ps
    another stab at Christianity, through “doctored” debate, on
    panto dames,. 5live love-in”your call”, this morning “are Christians discriminated against”? …
    well looking at the pro/against ratio here definitely … 😀
    someone did get a word in, about pro-muslim protectionism,
    and the implications, but he was as welcome as a fart in a space suit, and immediately disappeared – paff – gone!.
    I couldn t stand anymore of this horse and pony show and tuned out, just we were going to get the thoughts of ………
    wait for it …………… mohammed!

       11 likes

  37. johnnythefish says:

    Listening to the Today programme this morning, only half paying attention (it was Europe – again). They have been interviewing the main party leaders to get their position on a referendum/repatriation of powers and today it was Clegg’s turn. But summarising what they’d covered so far Webb rambled a bit about what Cameron had said about his forthcoming ‘keynote’ speech but my ears suddenly pricked up when I heard something along the lines of ‘…and Ed Miliband’s position is clear – he thinks Britain is sleepwalking towards the exit.’ Now given 90% of the interview with Clegg was about whether or not he’d hold a referendum, and given Miliband blustered and stuttered when challenged on that issue on the Marr show, how could Webb possibly give Miliband’s position as ‘clear’?

    The familiar far-from-level playing field on the Today programme, with Labour as usual kicking down the 1 in 3 slope.

       17 likes

  38. George R says:

    “We’ve had too much doom and gloom, admits Radio 4 chief as she says she wants to ‘throw fireworks’ into the schedule ”

    By LIZ THOMAS

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2262489/BBC-Radio-4-chief-wants-throw-fireworks-schedule-including-Tony-Harrisons-controversial-poem-V.html

       2 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Ooooo…..ahhhhhh….
      Standards of accuracy and objectivity however…. just the same.
      Presumably these fireworks won’t be within the new £1B bunker.
      That would be silly, and a waste of money.

         4 likes

      • David Preiser (USA) says:

        You can bet that none of the darling artists brought in to spice things up will throw a single firework in the direction of the demographic whom the Beeboids actually fear enough to build that bunker.

        If Radio 4 wasn’t Left-wing enough for you, they’re going to step their game up.

           7 likes

    • Beeboidal says:

      Too much doom and gloom? Tell that to 5Live, who are always seeking to portray Britain as a country devastated by Toricutz. The recent cold snap gave 5live the opportunity to ‘reach out to listeners’ on Sunday’s Nolan show, who were invited to call about the difficulty they had in affording to heat their homes.

      5Live got what they wanted. Talk of Dicksonian (sic) poverty, Victorian penury and 1930s type recession. And that was from people in employment! The most bizarre of these was Owen from Sussex, who claims to sleep in the back of his company van, occasionally running the engine for heat, because on his salary (£16,500) he claims he can’t afford to run his oil-fired central heating in his one bedroom flat. He claimed the cost of running the heating is £120 per month. Now I’m a stranger to the world of oil-fired central heating, but £120 per month seems very excessive to me. But why is he sleeping in his van anyway? I don’t know about you, but heating at our house goes off at night because we’re in bed, warm as toast. Adding to Owen’s woes was the fact that he couldn’t stay at his girlfriend’s place more than three days a week as this would ‘infringe her benefits’. Naturally, Nolan and the lefty former bishop Stephen Lowe lapped it all up.

         12 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        Being christened Owen seems to impose immediate disadvantages already.
        ‘claims to sleep in the back of his company van, occasionally running the engine for heat, because on his salary (£16,500) he claims he can’t afford to run his oil-fired central heating in his one bedroom flat. He claimed the cost of running the heating is £120 per month’
        Oil is not cheap, true, but at £1.49l can’t see 4* or diesel being too cost-effective either.
        Lucky for the lad (& lass if she gets to visit… with the brood?) they don’t figure on popping the pipe in the back window to get the exhaust heat too.
        Company fleet manager must be pretty dozy too, unless he figures a Transit doing 2mpg is the norm.
        The whole thing sounds like it could have required more pre-challenge vs. a BBC ‘whoops, we did it again’ in post mortem source checking.

           8 likes

    • johnnythefish says:

      So to lift the doom and gloom, we have Tony Harris’s expletive-ridden poem about the miners’ strike?

      How so very uplifting. The BBC – Job’s Comforter was but an amateur by comparison.

         1 likes

      • Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:

        I should imagine he Was able to end that poem on a brighter note though? Adding in all the mines that Bliar reopened after 97 ? Pardon, how many ? Oh…..oops!

           3 likes

        • johnnythefish says:

          And you bet the poem gives Arthur ‘democracy over my dead body’ Scargill a positive spin or two.

             1 likes

  39. George R says:

    EGYPT.

    Islam Not BBC (INBBC), its Cairo Bureau, its INBBC Arabic, censor Islam’s persecution of Christians still.
    Why report this?:-

    “Egypt imprisons entire family for converting to Christianity”

    http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/01/egypt-imprisons-entire-family-for-converting-to-christianity.html

       6 likes

  40. Guest Who says:

    The current top two Editors’ Picks here are interesting:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21025332
    I wonder if what they pick would form the basis of their reporting elsewhere?
    More interestingly I was brought here by the home page headline: ‘BA discriminated against Christian’.
    Now, given the tendency to sober reflection by members of other faiths, I wonder if such another ‘accuracy won’t fit’ headline has really seen any actual lessons learned vs. ticking a box and doing sod all as only the truly unaccountable can?
    http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/trust-upholds-complaint-against-bbc-news-over-inaccurate-tweet
    ‘the corporation said the issue was whether the headline on Twitter matched the story “and, in its view, it did”
    The view of the BBC being so trustworthy on any measure about the BBC these days?

       5 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:

      That’s one to bookmark for the arsenal against defenders of the indefensible, I think. The Trust has upheld your complaint, no? Defenders of the indefensible always find reasons to dismiss this kind of complaint, yet here is the Trust making a ruling on the exact one.

         3 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        ‘Defenders of the indefensible always find reasons to dismiss this kind of complaint, yet here is the Trust making a ruling on the exact one.’
        The complaint was upheld, eventually, but only after several months and elevation through several layers, including Director level, all getting comfy in belief that black is white.
        Until the Trust rather blew that one away, if under some persistent prompting.
        It can be done, but carries costs.
        Worth it, mind.
        What’s interesting from the ruling is they have made a a solemn promise never to do it again, yet still do. This seems a pattern.
        Also the market rate talent Director appears to have suffered zero consequences for what his superiors would appear to confirm was epic bad faith and wasting licence fee payers’ money.
        He is a BBC staffer abusing his position.
        It’s worth noting that those two accusations (only, no proof required) by the BBC of a licence fee payer is all that is required for an automatic expediting (banning).
        That is yet another unique the BBC might still like to explain, if they can get round that ‘power being held to account as well’ phobia.

           3 likes

  41. Privatise the BBBC says:

    So far there is nothing on the BBC website regarding this story:
    http://news.sky.com/story/1038272/grooming-and-sex-abuse-nine-men-on-trial

    Perhaps they just haven’t got round to writing it yet or the search words I used do not match what they’ve written.

       6 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      The BBC are writing up the headline now. It will go something like this:

      Nine men from the Oxford area accused, another case for Inspector Morse

         9 likes

    • Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

      Looks like it’s just appeared, at 12:39.
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-21027681
      The bBBC actually lists the names of the nine Muslims, but beware if you look at the webpage as they have an artist’s impression of the ugly men.

         8 likes

      • AsISeeIt says:

        I seem to recall the BBC reasuring us there was nothing ‘racial’ involved after the last batch of cases. Mind you, there’s still no worries for the multiculti stats. The Savile case will the skew the figures back in favour of white men.

           10 likes

    • noggin says:

      it is very visible that theres no such apprehension here though, 😀 i.e.
      can you spot the odd one out?
      EDL’s Kevin Carroll arrested, over race hate crime
      BBC News … or
      Joint leader of English Defence League Kevin Carroll arrested on suspicion of race hate crime
      The Independent‎
      Kevin Carroll arrested on suspicion of race hate crime
      Bedfordshire News‎
      English Defence Leagues Kevin Carroll arrested on suspicion … luton/bedfordshire .co. uk
      The joint leader of the English Defence League has been arrested on suspicion … news 168
      BFP Chairman arrest latest … politicus etc etc

         6 likes

  42. George R says:

    “The licence fee is a fetter on the BBC”

    By David Elstein .

    http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourbeeb/david-elstein/licence-fee-is-fetter-on-bbc

       3 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      The comments are interesting too, not only for who is saying what (following a familiar script), but who gets in there pronto and has the time to lurk.
      ‘By your friends’, ‘n all.

         4 likes

  43. Dave666 says:

    Just on the One o@clock news “men” abusing girls, and the artists impression gives it away. Not sure how many times the presenter used the phrase “men” I lost count. BBC fooling no-one as usual.

       12 likes

  44. noggin says:

    13.22 5live news
    9 … erm …”men” at the old bailey …
    funny i thought they were all pak/north african muslims .. on multiple rapes, assaults depraved sexual abuse, and trafficking children/girls between 9 and 13, they deliberately moved them around, hooked them on drink/drugs, guarded them over days at a time so there was no escape, and got their fellow peadostanis to travel from all over to rape and bugger them.

    i look forward to blanket coverage, and a newsnight/panorama special report … with no holds barred
    … and what about this community that has spawned them?

    well … sorry, i know quite a few ways to make them erm “appreciate” their errors … and i mean that most sincerely 😀
    that would probably end with kneecapping and deportment
    as a sweet … and that is far too good believe me ..
    goodness the things the bbc, can bring to mind, with its biased protectionism eh!

    oh … i know i know … but thats not politically correct?
    …. sorry about that.

       16 likes

    • Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

      The news report says that other ‘men’ visited to abuse the girls, coming ‘from as far afield as Bradford, Leeds, London and Slough’.
      Hmmmm … I wonder if those places give any clues to the reasons for the crimes?

         15 likes

    • George R says:

      “Muslim Gang Rape Whitewashed in Britain”

      by Paul Weston (Nov 2012).

      http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/muslim-gang-rape-whitewashed-in-britain.html

         10 likes

      • George R says:

        While INBBC gave recent India rape cases great prominence, INBBC relegates these ‘Asian men’ rape cases to its ‘Oxfordshire’ page:
        INBBC:-
        “Oxford ‘child sex ring committed depraved abuse'”

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-21027681

           8 likes

        • Albaman says:

          It is also number one item on the England News page at this time:
          http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/

             1 likes

          • stewart says:

            Ive just followed link and their no mention of the oxford case at all
            it says last updated 19:17 and the lead story is about children killed in tower block fire
            “A man whose entire family died in a tower block fire in south London tells an inquest “everything that I dreamed of was over in three hours”. “

               1 likes

        • johnnythefish says:

          The BBC national lunchtime news described them a ‘9 local men’ then bashfully put up the artist’s impression of them in the dock.

          Conclusion: what a splendid example of cultural integration ladies and gentlemen (with apologies to Bernard Right-On).

             7 likes

          • graphene fedora says:

            ‘Some of the allegations are of such a graphic nature, the Oxford Mail is unable to publish them.’
            The Oxford Mail has, since the first arrests in what became Operation Bullfinch, been right on the case, & is running a live blog from Court 8 at the Old Bailey. Already, it makes sickening reading. The court reconvenes on Thursday.

            http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/

               5 likes

    • noggin says:

      remember this guy …. he s in No 10
      “Asian families and communities are incredibly strong and cohesive, and have a sense of civic responsibility which puts the rest of us to shame.
      Not for the first time, I found myself thinking that it is mainstream Britain which needs to integrate more with the Asian way of life, and not the other way around.”
      … mind you he also said “multiculturalism has failed”
      so nothing else for it … but pass round the burkhas

         9 likes

  45. jimbola says:

    Nothing to see here. Move along now please.

       9 likes

  46. George R says:

    Turkey.

    INBBC wants 80 million Muslim Turks in E.U, so why not censor this?:-

    “Hitler honored in upscale mall in modern, moderate Turkey”

    http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/01/hitler-honored-in-upscale-mall-in-modern-moderate-turkey.html

       9 likes

  47. noggin says:

    r.bacon has alexi sayle on …. i know …WHY?
    jeez! is he still going?
    the original example of “alternative” comedy …
    ie not funny at all,
    communist parents, the marxist leninist comedian
    intensive moral arguments, and a retrospective on political and social change etc etc …
    … oh be still my aching ribs

       16 likes

    • Sir Arthur Strebe-Grebling says:

      How many times did he mention Thatcher?

         9 likes

    • chrisH says:

      Has Alexei Sayle EVER made anybody laugh?
      Yet he seems to get into all those wunn`erful retrospectives about the genesis of real comedy…from the Godawful Young Ones, via Bottom through to a Russell or two.
      Sayle has long been sold…yet always gets a berth at the Beeb.
      Askey, Tarby, Boardman….not a laugh between these three Scouse stiffies..but anyone of them is funnier that Sayle!

         8 likes

      • Mark says:

        Doddy is all right ! At least you get your money’s worth when you see him on stage.

           4 likes

        • chrisH says:

          Purposely didn`t mention this great man!
          Doddy may well be the greatest living Liverpudlian…despite the failing faculties.
          Still-even a forgetful, fading Dodd is better than any lefty comedian who gets on the BBC.
          How come Tim Vine grew up so well, seeing as his Jeremys brother?…now THAT ought to be a longitudinal study!

             5 likes

          • noggin says:

            yes perhaps, jeremy was a bit of the old drip down the inside leg …
            the after effect

               1 likes

  48. Dickmart says:

    Blatant BBC bias in its coverage of the huge anti-gay marriage march in France exposed at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/2013/01/anti-gay-marriage-protests-prompts-the-ire-of-the-bbc/

       11 likes

  49. George R says:

    Beeboid ears burning?:-

    “France marches on Mali, and the Left’s anti-war fervour falls silent. Is liberal interventionism back on the agenda?”

    By Dan Hodges .

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danhodges/100198227/france-marches-on-mali-and-the-lefts-anti-war-fervour-falls-silent-is-liberal-interventionism-back-on-the-agenda/

       5 likes

    • noggin says:

      i clicked to ch4 news tonight, to see malians treating french as heroes 😀 … thankful for being saved from … ahem!
      “the horrors of islamism and strict sharia” 😀
      one stating he
      wished they were colonised by the french all over again
      😀

      hmmm not at the al bbc though,
      bet it hasn t gone down well in the offices of the colonial guilt department … or the crackpot head of religious programming …
      mon shariamour (no more) non! 😀

         12 likes

      • Framer says:

        One bloke said he wanted the French to stay. When asked if he realised this would be a return to colonialism he said ‘Yes please’.

           2 likes

  50. johnnythefish says:

    More doom and gloom on BBC north west news at lunchtime – this time a report from Salford University claiming that half the population of Manchester are on the verge of poverty. Report praised by the interviewer then straight onto what should be done about it, which was the cue for the Greenham Common woman lookalike prof to expound on the need for a city region taking powers from whitehall and Manchester council becoming an energy provider.

    No challenge on how they came to their conclusions, how these poverty-stricken people run their budget, why a city region should make any difference, how Manchester council would become an energy provider etc etc – just keep on with the relentless flow of doom-mongering which, despite no cuts to benefits as yet and no rise in unemployment i.e. no change from the miracle boom years of Labour, somehow quickly became the norm once the coalition came to power.

    Meanwhile no sign of coffee shop, takeaway or restaurant trade diminishing – in fact, the opposite. How does that work with half the population in poverty?

       12 likes

    • Mark says:

      The City of Manchester is a socialist wasteland apart from districts like Didsbury and Chorlton with their pretensions to Hampsteadism.

      Just for the record, Manchester has had 67 years of uninterrupted socialist rule, rivalling the 74 years of the USSR’s existence.

      In the meantime, middle-class flight into “safer” boroughs, and to Cheshire, had reduced the city’s population by nearly half. By contrast, the council workforce had doubled since 1945 !

         19 likes

      • johnnythefish says:

        The best story in recent years was the council leader, who at the time had been banging on relentlessly about people using public transport to cut down on congestion and CO2 emissions, chose to use his own car (mileage paid at a stratospheric rate) rather than the train for a meeting in Milton Keynes – you know, do as I say not as I do etc. Ended up being carjacked driving back home through Manchester. Priceless.

           8 likes

    • Dickmart says:

      Well, whatever you say about the Beeb, they’re doing their bit for the Manchester economy. Plenty of BMW/Mercedes showrooms near their new HQ.

         6 likes