Midweek Thread 5 February 2020

The Government has announced the formal consultation on decriminalising not having a TV licence . In view of that I would ask that those with an interest in ending the BBC in its’ current form consider submitting their views to the government .
It is the most practical first step to achieving our aim

The link to the consultation is here –

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-decriminalising-tv-licence-evasion

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495 Responses to Midweek Thread 5 February 2020

  1. Guest Who says:

    See this… it’s the BBC’s credibility:

       20 likes

  2. angus longstaffe says:

    First ! OMG !

       7 likes

  3. Dystopian says:

    ——————->>>>
    Comment moved to new thread;

    So Boris shares a platform with that twit from the BBC whose fake climate agenda has been called out already (re polar bears and walruses). Said idiot then tells us that it is our responsibility to change the world. Why is it our responsibility and at our cost and with unproven ‘science’. I’m livid. I’m going to move to the US and buy a big gas guzzling motor. I’m sick of the government imposing new laws and outlawing things to appease the minority of nutters in this country.
    I Imagine the EU are laughing their socks off. Brexit is the perfect opportunity to become more competitive and they pull a stunt like this. Talk about going backwards.
    We’ll all be stuck in Dick’s days while the rest of the planet advances.
    EU won’t need a deal now as we won’t be buying their cars anyway.

    So now not only will our kids never afford a house they will never afford a car either!

       87 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      I believe that’s the plan. UN Agenda 21 and Agenda 2030 are driving this.
      I pray that President Trump in his second term has a plan to de-fang and de-fund the UN and that Prime Minister Johnson follows suit. Starting with our withdrawal from the UN compact on migration.

         24 likes

      • NCBBC says:

        The real trouble is that the lie of man made climate change has been accepted as gospel.

        Unfortunately, even if we had a referendum on AGW, the Warmists will win, such has been the continuous propaganda by politicians and BBC type media. Continuous propaganda, sandwiched in, in all TV output. Plays, ducumentaries on ancient history, one way or other the BBC has somehow managed to shove Climate Change in it.

        The BBC has done its job- like it or not, one way or other, we will be subsidising inefficient wind turbines and solar dells, resultant power cuts, brownouts, till western engineering expertise will decay and die. Then if a real emergency arrives, we wont have the resources or expertise to deal with it.

           5 likes

  4. davylars says:

    Waiting for Soapy’s views on the bungled caucuses.
    Seems to all the democrat caucuses are open to rigging, but this would never occur to the BBC for a ‘fact check’
    If the republicans used the same process, with the same chaos, it would be two weeks of front page…

       47 likes

    • Rob in Cheshire says:

      That’s because there are no enemies on the left.

      The BBC is a fellow travelling left wing institution. No-one at the BBC is allowed to have any sort of vaguely conservative views. They all have to subscribe to the left wing hive mind.

      Thus, anything the left wing Democrats do is good, and any mistakes they make are innocent and well meaning. The right wing Republicans, and especially President Trump, are, however, intrinsically evil. Not wrong, not mistaken, but evil. Everything they do or say is evil.

      All BBC reporting comes through this prism of bias.

         29 likes

  5. Guest Who says:

    Bbc

    ???? On BBC Sounds, 15 fascinating snapshots from the lives of pioneers of green thought and green action, from Joni Mitchell to James Lovelock and from Jacques Cousteau to Rachel Carson…

    https://bbc.in/2towAnV

    ***

    Bless.

       23 likes

  6. MarkyMark says:

    OK Lads …
    cc2fed47d382b7b940665be3651bd6b3de71c6758f4fd36554837cb23b8f31b9.jpg

       94 likes

  7. vlad says:

    Tut tut, the uber woke, sanctimonious bbc reveals its institutional racism by confusing two black MPs. All look the same, right beeb?

    (To compound the offence, the Standard report on the gaffe and in the process confuse a third black MP. At which point David Lamey can’t resist wading in to the imbroglio.)

       47 likes

    • Dystopian says:

      No we don’t. We have had enough diversity thanks.

         68 likes

    • Jeff says:

      OMG they’ve not done it again, surely?
      Last week they were confusing two black basketball players no one in Britain had ever heard of…despite the dead one being “legendary”…and this week it’s two black Labour MPs…we wish we’d never heard of…
      This is simply wonderful. The propagandists who are forever lecturing the rest of us about bleedin’ diversity, vibrancy and enrichment, can’t tell one black person from another.
      Delisharse!

         68 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Wot David wants…

      BBC: The Next Generation.

      Whoopie is playing 9 of Seventy. Apparently.

         14 likes

  8. Foscari says:

    The BBC-Enemy of the State !!

       53 likes

  9. Dover Sentry says:

    The only hope for the BBC is a new DG who will steer them back to normality.

       27 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Dover
      The next DG will be an inbreed such as James Purnell or if they can find someone female and dusky she’ll get the job to tick the “ first female blah blah “ tedium which the BBC promotes as part of the propaganda message .

      To me ‘ business as usual ‘ will be excellent because it will further hasten the downfall of the BBC . Break it up and sell it off . The state has no business broadcasting .

         63 likes

      • theleftwilleatitself says:

        This is what happens when the left meets the left ????

        the left will eat itself ????…..eventually

           46 likes

      • dfhunter says:

        but it’s not the state Fed.
        governments come and go but the Beeb has it’s own agenda.

           2 likes

      • EmptyingDadsShed says:

        I’m putting forward Diane Abbots name for DG

           1 likes

  10. Dover Sentry says:

    Am Intermission from the horrors of the BBC.

    Al Murray as Pub Landlord in real life is of the Left. But there is some truth in his humour.

    “Why The British Are Undefeated World War Champions”

    “We haven’t been defeated for a thousand years”

       21 likes

  11. Guest Who says:

    Trouble in paradise.

       33 likes

    • vlad says:

      Too much ‘opinion’ already thanks, especially from Jon.

      Less opinion, more facts please.

         60 likes

    • john in cheshire says:

      The most used words and phrases in the hive’s lexicon:
      Could
      Might
      Possibly
      Is
      Should the ….( fill in the person, policy, party etc) be doing…
      Why won’t the…( etc) not be doing…
      Some say
      An unnamed source

      There are more I’m sure but they all have one thing in common, they’re based on opinion.

         19 likes

  12. Guest Who says:

    The bbc of course answers all questions.

       17 likes

    • dfhunter says:

      why can’t press nob heads realise shouting out questions & expecting/demanding an answer is stupid not clever?

      answer – they are self important morons, up there own as***les

         3 likes

  13. Kaiser says:

    not bbc
    but lbc’s supposedly populist shock jock last week said there were no indigenous british, then got ripped by varoius youtubers

    check out the comments on the fat lump of lards youtube
    the worm begins to turn methinks

       15 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Firstly @Kaiser wrote LBC when he means TalkRadio
      There is a whacking great logo on the vid

         8 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      The matter concerns a spat between TalkRadio presenter Mike Graham and an identitarian group associated with Matk Collett
      and Mike Graham is losing cos he painted himself into a corner
      Some one brought up the topic of White British Identity
      and he’s a London media guy so although he can talk about Black or BAME identities he can’t talk about WB the same way , he instead resorts to bullying and insults.
      There’s a video by that group that explains

      After MG ridiculed a caller and cut her off, Youtuber
      Laura Towler took him on
      middle of thread
      Her followers are much more interested than his, so he’s getting beaten he had to run away from actual discussion and then just chuck insults at her.
      her number of Likes , when it’s clear she has 500+ and he has none

      The very start of thread

         22 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        Demographic change particularly in London is the topic MG can’t discuss openly.
        And basically he’s stuck in the mode of shouting “racist” at anyone who tries to discuss it.

        Laura’s video is a slick

           21 likes

  14. ToobiWan says:

    I wonder what his sentence will be and will he only serve half before being let out on licence?

       10 likes

  15. taffman says:

    Following advice from readers of this site to tune into LBC instead of Al Beeb, I find that Ian Payne is telling us how good that broadcaster is . Then make it pay by subscription . If it is that good it will make a profit for the people this country ?
    Simples .

       37 likes

  16. JimS says:

    The Irish go to the polls this weekend. The BBC tells us:

    “Housing is a big issue in the Republic of Ireland, with the number of homes needed in major towns and cities well below the level required to house the demand.

    Mr Varadkar also faced criticism for his party’s record on housing, and particularly dealing with rising levels of homelessness in Ireland”.

    “Waiting lists and overcrowding remains an outstanding issue in the Republic of Ireland.

    More than 553,000 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment in December, according to the monthly figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). That was an increase of 37,000 on the previous year.”

    It looks like Ireland is the only country ‘in the West’ that is breeding fast enough to replace its aging population.

    Or is there another reason?

       59 likes

  17. Halifax says:

    The BBC are totally obsessed with Trump. They don’t even hide the fact that they hate him and what he stands for.
    It’s just a shame that they can’t show the same “obsession” of hate for Hashem Abedi the on trial brother of the scum that killed innocent children at the Manchester arena.

    Down with the BBC end the telly tax now !!

       70 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Jon does have other targets, but also uses #1degreeofseparation

      Bet Emily likes it too.

         5 likes

    • fakenewswatcher says:

      T R U M P ! 2 0 2 0 ! (And I’m not even a great fan of the person. The policies, a big yes. Without him the ‘West’ would now be S U N K ! The Merkels and Clintons/Schiffs/ Pelosis of this world would be ruling the roost. The fact that one of these actually IS doing so, merely strengthens my case.)

      Footnote: Merkel, who has broken numerous laws and treaties, and given us the failed former German ‘Defence minister’, Ms v.d.Leyen, as EU boss, tells us that she should long ago have faced a Court of Law. Add Killary into the mix and you see why I say the ‘West’ would be sunk!

         8 likes

  18. andyjsnape says:

    the tele tax price goes up on April 1st 🙂 about sums it up

       23 likes

  19. JamesArthur says:

    Didn’t the BBC just love the sacked UN climate change person yesterday – she came over as being all nicey nicey but just kept slagging Boris off and gave the BBC their lovely sound bites..Boris admits he doesn’t get climate change and not to trust him.. well I am one of those who thinks she was sacked for a reason….she just didn’t talk about it..Left to a T.

    And this morning a discussion on why Top 100 companies haven’t all got one BAME on the board? Why the F*** should they? What does it add unless they have the skills? When will the BBC understand that this country is still over 80% white – so only 20% at the most should have a BAME not 100%
    Roll on BBC split up…

       63 likes

  20. Dover Sentry says:

    The Sun:

    “STRIKE THREE! Trump takes out ANOTHER terror chief as al Qaeda’s leader in Yemen who threatened attack on US wiped out in air strike”

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10870949/al-qaeda-leader-yemen-dead-us-strike/

    Not mentioned by the BBC. But they do carry this on their front page:
    ‘My African name stopped me getting job opportunities’

       54 likes

  21. Not Gwent says:

    State Broadcaster needs help. We know that they struggle with identifying people. Today they can’t tell the difference between a Mercedes (headline) and a McClaren (badge on the back of the car in accompanying photo).

       33 likes

  22. Ed Hitter says:

    The murder trial of the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber is under way. There’s coverage on the front page of some of today’s national papers.
    A case about Islamist terrorists killing 22 British people ought to be major BBC news – but it’s not.
    It is not on its website home page, or it’s U.K. page, or it’s England page.
    It is only reported on its local Manchester page. So, our country is under sustained attack and someone who allegedly plotted to shred our children to pieces is facing justice, but it’s reckoned by the BBC to be only of minority local interest.
    Meanwhile, stories deemed more important by the biased BBC: “My African name stopped me getting jobs”, “Tow bar smashed windscreen and hit driver’s head”, and “Bare shoulder MP in Twitter blast over outfit”.

       65 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      A long time ago there was a movie.

      https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133952/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_83

      Uncomfortable.

      Even then it was interesting that the politicians asked the general to do what was necessary, he tells them, and points out the consequences, which they agree to… and then renege.

      Sometimes the genie does not go back into the bottle easily. Especially if those who uncorked it remain in charge.

         9 likes

  23. Dystopian says:

    The government plan to wreck our economy, by banning petrol and diesel cars by 2035 and forcing every household to scrap their gas central heating boilers.
    This is to appease the unproven “man made climate change” nutters.
    It was just being discussed on Talk Radio. Apparently, if the whole of the UK becomes totally carbon neutral (net zero), with no flights, cars, boilers etc etc, then the difference this would make to the whole planet, is the equivalent of 9 months GROWTH in China!
    Wow!

       55 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Dystopian, even if you stopped all human activity, CO2 will still increase. Even if you end all human life on earth, CO2 will still increase. You would have to nuke Earth to tiny fragments to end the growth of CO2 in our ‘Goldilocks’ planet.

         32 likes

      • ToobiWan says:

        Patrick Moore, (the other one), co founder of Greenpeace, and the importance of CO2 and the consequences of its reduction.
        Speaks his mind here, longer interview here

           18 likes

      • john in cheshire says:

        Henrik Svensmark, Danish proper scientist.
        Nir Shaviv, proper Israeli scientist.

        Their work on the sun’s activity and magnetic radiation and cosmic rays and cloud formation is closer to the truth than I’ve read or seen.

        According to their work, when the sun is active the magnetic field emitted by the sun is stronger.
        With a strong magnetic field, fewer cosmic rays reach the earth.
        Cosmic rays are the nuclei around which water droplets collect which in turn produce clouds.
        Clouds reflect the sun’s heat back into space, thus cooling the earth.
        With fewer cosmic rays reaching earth, fewer clouds are formed.
        With fewer clouds, the earth’s temperature rises.
        We are living in a period of high solar activity.
        Hence there will be a tendency for earth’s temperatures to rise.
        Nothing that man can do to influence this and the CO2 contribution is negligible.
        Now why doesn’t the hive produce a programme about this proper science?

           20 likes

    • JimS says:

      Ponder this:

      The typical petrol pump delivers energy 3,000 times faster than is possible using the whole of the typical domestic electricity supply.

      Not only that but some are suggesting ‘stealing’ energy from cars on charge.

      We are going to need a lot of Unicorn Urine to burn if we are survive the plans of our politicians.

         18 likes

      • Fedup2 says:

        Jim – I heard a government minister say that they aimed to have every one within 30 miles of a charging point . I had to check that my ears were still on my head but I felt instantly sorry for the poor sucker who ran out of juice 29 miles from the target …
        Although I suppose there might be a spare battery being sold on amazon prime by 2035 …..
        Meanwhile with the japs and krauts still having ‘closed ‘ notices on the nuclear reactors – burn that coal ….

           18 likes

        • JimS says:

          It doesn’t really matter how close the charging stations are, the plain fact is that liquid fuels pack a heck of a lot of energy in a small space. Wind and Solar farms are very low density forms of generation compared to burning oil, they do have the advantage of using ‘free’ energy from the Sun.

          The pure electric car, not having a prime-mover, is more efficient than a petrol or diesel car, (the inefficiencies being pushed back up the wires to the real prime mover), and there is some potential to recover energy lost during braking on a ICE car. Set against that some of the waste heat of the ICE car comes in very handy in our northern climes, the electric car will need to provide heat from somewhere.

          We keep being promised ‘better’ battery technologies. Well they don’t work that well for any other product, torch, drill, phone or tablet so why should they work for cars? Just suppose that we can pack in energy at the rate of a petrol pump and into a comparable volume, what happens when they go wrong? Laptops and phones burst into flames, I dread to think what an electric car battery is capable of.

             17 likes

          • john in cheshire says:

            There have been instances of Teslas bursting into flames, particularly when they crash.

            As I understand it, electric cars are heated or air conditioned by a combination of circulating coolant that keeps the batteries cool, and electric heaters/ Aircon units powered by the batteries.

            And if you examine the batteries, they are very unsophisticated, looking like bundles of AA batteries.

            Also, I believe that batteries aren’t solid state in that they still need some form of liquid component to allow the electrons to flow.

               12 likes

        • john in cheshire says:

          Here’s a song about coal:

          https://youtu.be/FA3Royf9_zM

          From a time when songs were interesting, clever, tuneful and positive. Even though he’s lamenting his lot, I don’t find it anti-coal or defeatist.

             10 likes

    • JamesArthur says:

      Dys
      I agree but also think may be Boris has a cunning plan – he knows he wont have to deal with it but it may help him bring business to UK – Nissan have already said they would be willing to relocate all of their European electric car plants to UK. So maybe he will increase incentives for companies to build the UK electric industry…
      but I don’t know why it is net zero….why not 0.5 or 1…

         8 likes

  24. Up2snuff says:

    TOADY Watch #1 – A Pygmalian Moment

    State of the Union.
    It has taken over five years but at last “They’ve got it! I do believe they’ve got it.” The BBC finally start to understand President Trump: he is a Reality Show President.

    State of the BBC.
    Execrable.

       28 likes

  25. Guest Who says:

    So… The Poison Peroxide Pepperami stick… just how impartial was she last night? Wherever she is currently.

       14 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Or her sister in arms.

         21 likes

      • john in cheshire says:

        To Ratty Katty. You can be as free a press as you like dear but it doesn’t give you an automatic right of entry anywhere you might choose to be.

        You could always stand outside and ask the attendees on their way out, what had been presented by the speakers.

        Button-holing those who were allowed in would be a good test of how much they’d be prepared to share their news story with you. Not very in my estimation. Now that would be newsworthy.

           9 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      Guest, sorry, but I need some enlightening: “The Poison Peroxide Pepperami stick” ? Who?

         11 likes

        • Guest Who says:

          Not this one, but close…

          The bbc seem supportive. Despite…

             18 likes

          • StewGreen says:

            Tracey Brabin at the last Labour cabinet meeting
            EQAIm20X4AIMWN9.jpg:small

               24 likes

          • BRISSLES says:

            I saw the photo of the ‘off the shoulder’ job, and immediately thought it was inappropriate wear for the formal surroundings of Parliament.

            Sadly we live in an era where no one has any judgement of propriety anymore. Clinicians have ditched the white coat, nurses look like cleaners, the tie is becoming obsolete, tv quiz contestants turn up in Hawaiian shirts, wedding guests dress like Love Island participants.

            Yes I’m from another (and elderly) planet, but if I’m dealing with those in a ‘profession’ whether it be a local estate agent, hospital consultant, solicitor or MP then I want them to dressed appropriately – preferably a suit for either sex (sorry, gender !). They can dress like Superman or Batgirl out of work, but standards should be upheld in the workplace.

               48 likes

            • Beltane says:

              The well-engineered furore caused by the political giant that is Tracy Brabin – some time of Coronation Street, EastEnders and similar entertainment – seems to overlook just why this gifted politician should have chosen such a dress. It’s almost as though she knew, in much the same way as her replacing St. Jo, that her effectiveness needs to take second place to ‘celebrity’.
              Appearances on both major channels at breakfast time have done the job of promoting a Labour MP of sorts, but the question she was raising at the time – being her purpose within the House – has already faded into obscurity. Par for the course where her party is concerned.

                 24 likes

            • Khaa2091 says:

              Clinicians haven’t ditched the white coat – we have been disciplined to Bare below the elbows, fought hard against wearing uniforms and been forced by our employers to not wear white coats. Infection control is used as the reason ( nothing to do with the hundred per cent bed occupancy), but actually they are perceived as elitist and therefore banned in the socialist nhs.

                 7 likes

        • Up2snuff says:

          Aah, thanks. Obviously trying to out compete ‘The Donald’ judging by her complexion in that photo. No doubt part of the BBC’s America Obsession.

             7 likes

  26. Fedup2 says:

    The Government has announced the formal consultation on decriminalising not having a TV licence . In view of that I would that those with an interest in ending the BBC in its’ current form consider submitting their views to the government .
    It is the most practical first step to achieving our aim .

    You might note that I am labouring this but it is the most tangible opportunity we have to fight the battle ‘ for real ‘ and must be taken .

       30 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Toady
      Being a dedicated witness to the Toady Programme. I am delighted to report that there is an overall air of despondency setting in

      I think they’ve realised that they have gone from being an anti brexit campaigner to ‘ loser’ as President Trump would say .

      Add this to a shiny new government finally starting to make journos feel uncomfortable and things are definitely looking up .

         42 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        There is a new bit of fun with Toady on social media, where each day somehow the first comment is from a real fan…

        “Good morning everyone. Three cheers for Martha – She is an excellent Presenter and cheers us all up with Her sense of humour and laughs, as well as Her wonderful Presenting skills.”

        Sadly the responses and subsequent comments could, perhaps, be going better. 😉

           23 likes

        • Guest Who says:

          Just read on. No confirmation on veracity, but as a taste…

          “It’s great that you are reporting on naloxone. But the first project nationally? Really? Many projects like this have been running for years. I wonder if some smart PR person in the local police said they were first and the Today report just nodded and reported accordingly. Just odd.”

          “Why do you insist on calling the retired Bishop of Norwich by the wrong name? He is Graham JAMES.”

          Just odd. And unique.

             14 likes

    • ToobiWan says:

      I don’t think that decriminalising the LF is the answer, this will just allow those without licences to be pursued through the civil courts. I can see those without a licence having their details “sold on” to debt collection agencies, who would then ramp up the cost of the licence to cover their costs and frighten, those without into settling early, before court proceedings are initiated. I have seen the same thing happen to people who have overstayed in supermarket car parks or parked in the wrong spot at a doctor’s surgery, who ignored the early demands for payment, only to wish they hadn’t later.
      The answer isn’t decriminalisation, it’s abolition.

         33 likes

      • Fedup2 says:

        Toobi
        I agree but there can be no substantial change in the charter until 2026 so this would be a ‘first step’ and in real life the most we are going to get for the time being . I agree on privatising it too – which is abolition .

           17 likes

        • ToobiWan says:

          Fedup2
          Lord Hall is on record in 2014, saying that given the advances in technology, the TV licencing model was outdated and he would like to see it replaced with something to reflect these changes. You don’t need a TV today to watch live or recorded broadcasts, anyone with a smartphone or apped PC can view such sewage to their hearts content and these are ones the BBC would love to charge for the “enjoyment” of their output.
          At present, should the inspector call and gain admittance to check for wrong doing and none payment, anyone without a licence can point to an aerial free TV. With the devices listed above, this will no longer be a defence, you are able view but it doesn’t mean you do but it’s impossible to prove a negative, so you’ll have to pay.
          I think that the whole exercise re the license issue is a smokescreen to bring in a system of funding similar to the German model where everyone pays whether the own a TV or not. I hope i’m wrong.

             12 likes

          • Fedup2 says:

            Toobi – I fear that . Then any accountabilty is gone if it is funded out of general taxation- although it might make it a better mechanism for cutting its budget , closing nonsense like the Asian network , a lot of local radio and the world service – for a start .

            The timing of the next charter review is a bit unfortunate because I think it is a year after the next election . So any review of the BBC might not be deep enough to get to the stage of making it subscription only funding .

               5 likes

            • ToobiWan says:

              Fedup2
              The way things are in the UK at present, I think the Asian channel would be one of the last to go. If the bbc are looking to save a few rupees, they could start with a certain football pundit!
              Just arrived in my mailbox.
              Good morning,
              The TaxPayers’ Alliance is delighted to invite you to an extremely topical policy event.
              The future of the BBC licence fee:
              Mark Wallace in conversation with Sir Robbie Gibb
              Sir Robbie Gibb: Senior Adviser with the global strategic communications firm Kekst CNC and newspaper columnist. Former Director of Comms at No10 Downing Street and former Head of BBC Westminster.
              Mark Wallace: Journalist, newspaper columnist and political activist. Mark is Chief Executive of ConservativeHome, and a former Campaign Director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
              When: Tuesday 3 March at 5.30pm for drinks, 6pm prompt start to finish 7pm latest.
              Where: Mothers’ Union, Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3RB
              RSVP: milly.skriczka@taxpayersalliance.com or 020 7340 6021

              In the run up to the 2019 General Election, Boris Johnson told an audience that he was “looking at” abolishing the TV licence fee. Earlier that year, TaxPayers’ Alliance polling found that almost 70 per cent of working-class voters want to scrap the TV tax. This was a full 28 per cent higher than support among middle-class voters. The time is ripe for reform of the BBC.
              With Tony Hall, the Director General of the BBC, stepping down, we are at an interesting crossroads – the BBC is under pressure from more modern broadcasters that utilise technology to stream content on demand. How can the BBC model change and adapt to the 21st century?
              Mark will explore all of this – and more – with Sir Robbie, who will have a unique insight of working in the BBC and dealing with it in government.
              I do hope you can join us
              With best wishes
              Milly
              Milly Skriczka, Development Manager
              TaxPayers’ Alliance, 55 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3QL
              Direct line: 020 7340 6021

                 10 likes

  27. Guest Who says:

    Any guesses where Toenails will look to get his bbc answers?

    The Graun perchance? Noted speaker for the nation it is too?

       12 likes

  28. Thoughtful says:

    “The Government has announced the formal consultation on decriminalising not having a TV licence ”

    There is absolutely nothing for us to celebrate in this action. It signals that the government has no intention of ending the licence fee in two years time, or why else bother to decriminalise?

    Worse than that though is the fact that the burden of proof is lower in the civil courts than the criminal courts making it even easier for the BBC goons to gain judgements.

    Then there’s the issue of costs – whereas now a court will be reluctant to award the prosecution costs, in a civil case full costs will be awarded.

    The BBC will be jumping up and down with joy over this, the cowardly useless incompetent Tories lunching over bottles of claret in their gentlemens clubs simply don’t give a stuff.

       23 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      The Graun is sitting on the fence. Its readers of course understand the truth.

         8 likes

    • Ian Rushlow says:

      The assumption must be that the Tories will do absolutely nothing. But, if decriminalisation takes place, there are two benefits:
      Firstly, it removes the establishment’s taboo about even discussing the BBC’s funding. Journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step etc.
      Secondly, the sheer number of people refusing to pay – likely to be several million – means that it will be impossible for the BBC to pursue this through the civil courts.
      The hope is that serious discussion will now commence and the BBC will find themselves with a funding Gordian Knot – but one which they cannot cut.

         20 likes

      • Thoughtful says:

        “the sheer number of people refusing to pay – likely to be several million – means that it will be impossible for the BBC to pursue this through the civil courts”

        There are a number of points here, not least that the numbers are unlikely to change very much from what they are now.
        Secondly is the level of punishment becomes far greater with the civil courts.

        As said earlier the burden of proof is lower so it’s easier for them to gain what amounts to conviction.
        Costs are likely to be well into four figures meaning most people will be left will crippling debts to pay.
        Credit ratings will be wrecked, meaning borrowing will be next to impossible or extremely expensive – a mortgage would be unobtainable.
        Those who own their own homes are likely to have charging orders made with associated costs which might well be in excess of £10 K some might well be evicted and made homeless as a result.

        Don’t think for a moment decriminalisation is a good thing because it isn’t. The Tories are up to their usual idiocy, with expediency incompetence and cowardice driving them.

        To gain criminal conviction a hearing has to be made with the person present, and they are entitled to representation, as the useless idiots have said, the sole reason they want to decriminalise is because the magistraits courts are being clogged up with hundreds of thousands of cases of non payment – and that for the Tories is the only reason.

        Take a look at how banks like First Direct deal with debt – block actions against thousands of people through sleepy courts which don’t have too much business. Defendants do have the right to a hearing but they have to know how to request this and deal with the legal process themselves, whilst not being entitled to any kind of legal assistance.

        Make no mistake this is a really really bad move for those opposing the BBC, and for them it’s a gift enabling them to impose crippling sanctions against the poor people they oppress and victimise. There is nothing good for those posting here, the only people benefitting are the cowardly useless incompetent Tories and the BBC.

           14 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Thoughtful – the only way we can get change – or extinction – of the BBC is to attack its budget . Beeboids aren’t going to wake up one day and change their poisonous way of thinking – leading to websites like this one . Depriving it of funds is the key .
      If l large part of licence fee cash lands up paying pensions that’s an even quicker way for the general population to turn against it …
      it’s more important that criticism of the editorial propaganda such as failing to mention the motivation for terrorism as being the Islamic religion of peace …

         11 likes

  29. digg says:

    Ex Soap Star hack and un-opposed labour candidate for Jo Cox constituency rushed onto the BBC this morning after a spat on social media over the “actress at awards ceremony” trashy off-the-shoulder dress she wore in the Commons or something.

    Turned into:

    1. Women are oppressed in everything.
    2. The Conservative Government are against democracy for not talking to the BBC
    3. The BBC should not have to decriminalise non-payment of license fee because they are the upholders of Truth and Democracy and need the money to do this.

       37 likes

  30. Thoughtful says:

    Yesterday I attended the funeral of a neighbour who had died in her nineties.
    On the 10mph trip to the crematorium I was unfortunate to have had radio 4 on – yet another fascist left program this time extolling the virtues of bogus asylum seekers (which of course it didn’t call them).

    They told us with great certainty that the people interviewed had been involved in conflict (not a clause in the refugee treaty) or that some had been tortured.
    They told the false stories on behalf of the claimants with great earnestness and gravity, yet they were lying to the listeners.

    The process of Asylum is reasonably simple, and even a BBC journalist could understand it if they bothered to find out.

    A claimant is interviewed at Apollo House in Croydon, and a determination is made as to the validity of their claim, most of them are false claims or do not engage treaty obligations.
    They are then sent a rejection letter setting out why their claim has been rejected and an interminable wait occurs for a court hearing at which around 90% of appeals will be rejected.

    But the BBC never told the listeners this, they took the side of the bogus asylum seeker without question. We never knew why the claim had been rejected.

    They then went on with the old leftist push that these people should be allowed to work! This is of course one of the primary reasons they come to the UK and allowing them access to an income stream will only encourage more chancers to try to get into Britain.

    There is no point in complaining, although I do take some comfort in the fact that they have stopped claiming that judges got their judgements completely wrong since I threatened to report them for contempt of court. They had reported catagorically that a failed asylum seeker had been tortured and that his entire claim was truthful despite the Home Office and a court finding it was false.

    When you reach those levels of bias and untruth then perhaps even the BBC has to realise it has gone too far !

       57 likes

    • BRISSLES says:

      …” This is of course one of the primary reasons they come to the UK and allowing them access to an income stream will only encourage more chancers to try to get into Britain.”

      Living in a village I have had regular Hermes delivery agents for a few years. They have allotted rounds and cover each other for leave and sickness. Lately I’ve had a couple of ‘alien’ delivery chaps of deep colour with barely any knowledge of English except to ask your name. When this was queried with the regular Hermes chap he just shook his head, and said he hadn’t a clue where they had come from, but clearly an infiltration was taking place. This in turn breeds resentment, and the rest of the feelings that go with it.

         33 likes

  31. Guest Who says:

    Girls rallying round?

    And some women.

       15 likes

  32. fakenewswatcher says:

    Noticed in the NYT that Pelosi, like some demented, vindictive, half-wit child, made a big show of tearing up Trump’s speech, while he was giving it. ‘Wheeee look at meeee, how clever I am!’
    This third-rate, kindergarten witch is what the Dems see as their leadership in Congress? Good luck to them; they’ll need it.
    Would expect Sopel (or O’ Donoghue or Buckle or whoever it is, from the large bbc delegation in Washington, who comments, to find a positive slant for her infantile demonstration…)

       47 likes

  33. Emmanuel Goldstein says:

    Is every terrorist that comes out of jail early followed by a squad of armed police officers who shoot to kill or is it only the ones who say they want to kill a politician?

       31 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Beyond the number commitment, more concerned at the RoE that they need to hack a few folk first before being stopped.

         4 likes

  34. StewGreen says:

    10am news “And a Yorkshire Labour MP has SHRUGGED OFF abuse that she got online after she wore an off the shoulder dress in parliament”

    Contrast that with the normal BBC headline
    “Trump has come UNDER PRESSURE cos someone has said something about him”

    #AllAboutFraming #PsychologyTricks

       28 likes

  35. StewGreen says:

    TalkRadio now discussing BBC decline

       16 likes

  36. StewGreen says:

    Abbott is losing in this thread

       28 likes

  37. fakenewswatcher says:

    I see on beeb’s homepage that Funke Abimbola’s African name ‘stopped her getting job opportunities’, (she claims). She is a ‘diversity campaigner’.
    My advice to her would be to become a ‘merit campaigner’, to stand a better chance of a job.
    After all, if she falls seriously ill, would she prefer to be treated by a doctor who got his position due to a diversity quota, or would she prefer to be treated by a doctor who got his position on merit?

       47 likes

    • Beltane says:

      Nothing to do with lost opportunities, every time she typed in ‘Funke’ the system rejected it as unsuitable language.

         13 likes

      • Nodding Dog says:

        She would probably get a job at a petrol station near me if she applied but I doubt that they advertise the jobs anyway! It was until recently a family owned service station it’s very busy being just off the motorway and having a truck stop I used to stop there quite regularly and would say employed about a dozen different staff one of which was ethnic seeing as the area is 99% white I would say fair enough.

        The owners sold up and new people took over not sure how many people work there now as I only occasionally call there now (much cheaper petrol in a village the other side of town) but I do drive past on the way to work and have yet to see anyone white employed there which given the make up of the local population that I stated previously I find rather strange?

           14 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Fake – judging by the mental state of the medical profession – where a surgeon can perform unnecessary operations in both NHS and private hospitals for money – I wonder if there is much merit .

      I can imagine a lot of those money motivated health professionals reading that story / report and praying that they don’t get found out . Mind you – the monster who conducted the operations only got 20 so he’ll be out in a couple of years ….

      … on the issue of sentencing —- it’s not BBC – but an excellent example of collective dumb group think – whoever came up with a sentencing policy which assumed Islamic terrorists could do a few years and then ‘cured ‘ . ?

         20 likes

    • Banania says:

      Paul Weston has advised people to apply for jobs using the name Abimbo Mbezla, with some success, I understand.

         8 likes

  38. andyjsnape says:

    I once ripped up a piece of paper, at the END of a meeting

    The beeb feels this is really important, everyone in future never rip up paper or this causes offensive lol

    Yes, we know you the beeb doens’t like President Trump. Not much “reported” on the US economy and how its booming, guess the economy shouldn’t and the chinese economy should! Lets look after our own, as the UK will/should outside of the eu

       20 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      I reckon Pelosi s petulant ripup of the SoTU speach was her realisation that Donny Trump will be getting a second term as the Dems do a Corbyn .

      If the pattern is followed the message will be that it’s neck a neck come September ….

         10 likes

      • john in cheshire says:

        According to a Fox News report I watched, gangster Pelosi broke the law by tearing up President Trump’s speech. And the penalty is quite severe. But of course nothing will happen to her. She’s a disgrace and I can only wonder at those who voted her into office. She also has the nerve to call herself a Christian.

           8 likes

  39. Nibor says:

    I wonder if TV Licensing will draw back from their intimidation tactics over the next few weeks , as a discussion starts about the suitability of this method of payment for a service easily done far far cheaper .

       19 likes

  40. Cane Corso says:

    Fedup
    The licence fee decriminalisation consultation is open to us all and as many people who comment the better. The site is at:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-decriminalising-tv-licence-evasion
    It can be completed online and closes on 1 April (fateful date) and can be done by anyone over 16 years. There are 3 opinion boxes which may be important – Why decriminalise; How debt could be recovered; How to mitigate impact.

       20 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Cane – very grateful – I will put it in the preamble

         7 likes

    • Dover Sentry says:

      Thanks also, CC. Now completed and submitted. I enjoyed doing that!

      🙂

         6 likes

    • Dystopian says:

      Someone ought to put an end to the intimidating threatening letters they send out with the assumption of guilt when some households actually don’t need a license.

         9 likes

  41. Nibor says:

    Somebody thinks he cant get a job because of his surname .

    This has been going on throughout the world and throughout history .

    To change your name to fit in with the new society you come to has been the norm , unless you are part of a conquering force .
    Then its onwards and upwards for those that adapt , settle and work hard .

       18 likes

  42. StewGreen says:

    XR think cos they have a spokesman who is an ex-police officer, that means we should take their whacky ideas seriously
    The article has open comments
    and a 15 minute video of today’s LBC 8:30am item
    https://twitter.com/Stephen75775909/status/1224998924525670405

       25 likes

  43. Old Goat says:

    The New Green Deal…

    https://realclimatescience.com/

       6 likes

  44. Kaiser says:

    The beeb is going to need a lot more “journalists” and a much bigger website to report every bit of petty vandalism in the country, perhaps it will report that someones dog defecated outside my home, in a suspected hate crime, as Ive got a union flag in the window

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-51369780

       20 likes

  45. ToobiWan says:

    Jeff Taylor on today’s licence fee debate.

       10 likes

  46. StewGreen says:

    Agreed sure she did proffer her hand
    .. but there is no refusal from Trump
    He was turning, and it’s not clear whether he saw her hand or not.
    So using the word “refused” is fakenews

       18 likes

  47. scribblingscribe says:

    Misery. As I understand it, we will continue to be forced to pay the BBC license fee, enforced by fines. The only change is that no one can be sent to prison for it.

       11 likes

    • Doublethinker says:

      Also you won’t get a criminal record which is quite a deterrent at present. I don’t think that the excess of the fineover the LF goes to the BBC. So we can refuse payment and make the BBC work very hard to get it without risking a damaging criminal record . If you can afford the fine then the opportunity to show what you think of the BBC is coming. Perhaps those who are fined for non payment should receive a badge of honour and wear it proudly. We need a campaign with poster, adverts , badges , burning BBC flags etc to get the anti BBC protest moving.

         3 likes

  48. JamesArthur says:

    POTUS didn’t even notice her hand – she had just handed him a board and he turned…why would he want to spend any time looking at her..BBC just making normal mischief..or lying…depends on your viewpoint

       15 likes

  49. StewGreen says:

    BBC updated Mile article after we noted they’d missed something out
    they put it in.
    “On Tuesday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told the National Assembly that Mila and her family were under police protection.”

       12 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Monday night France was transfixed bmy her TV appearance as she explained she said “Islam is a sh!t religion”
      after a Muslim internet user was making unwanted advances at her.

         11 likes

  50. Up2snuff says:

    TWatO Watch #1 – Not enough CO2, water vapour & methane in the atmosphere so …….
    … the BBC fly silly old fart James Naughtie over to Iowa merely to comment on the Democratic Party’s shambolic caucus from there.

    Necessary emissions? No.

    Necessary expense? No.

    BBC annual budget savings potential? Yes.

    Get James Naughtie to retire and slash many hundreds of thousands of pounds from the BBC’s costs.

    Then reduce the TV Tax to a manageable Licence figure of, say, £25.

       28 likes

    • Fedup2 says:

      Up2
      I can only think that naughtie is in some secret male society as he tries and fails to be Alistair Cook doing his ‘ imperial ‘ overview for the plebs from some bit of America .
      Meanwhile his ‘ mate ‘ John humphries has a column in the mail saying things about the BBC but still collecting that pension . Which I reckon is about £200k a year – if he was on £650k before being ‘ cut down ‘

      Got to pay for the ‘talent ‘ though …

         26 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        There are rumours, Fed, there are rumours – say no more than that.

        Mr Naughtie does seem to exercise a certain ‘grip’ – for a second or third rate News journalist and presenter (his programmes about music and literature are rather better) – over the BBC hierarchy.

           16 likes