Author Archives: Ed Thomas

This one is a bit special. Would it, I ask, be usual to offer the opinions on an fatal incident of the mother of a murder suspect?

Not saying it’s not possibly the truth, but since when is “he would never have “harmed Tash”, Mr Speight’s mother Jacqueline said.” the proper basis for a story?

Oh, wait a minute, there’s a detail I’m omitting here- the suspect in question works for the BBC.

Of course I wouldn’t usually speculate on things like this, and analysis of cause of death is not child’s play, but since the BBC is, why not?

Dave T. in the comments also noticed this, I note.

Update: welcome to Iain Dale readers and thanks to him for the link.

The BBC is always carrying water for the interfering nanny state in Britain, and today is no exception, with an article where they manage to reinforce stereotypes of Britons and Americans as prime fatties:

UK and US ‘keenest on fast food’

Trivial it isn’t, when you consider that “lifestyle change” is socialism’s new frontier.

The annoying part is that it’s probably not even true, if the experience of that greatest of fast food providers Macdonald’s is anything to go by: “the market where McDonald’s is weakest in Europe is… Britain”

The market where it’s strongest? Go on, have a guess. (Info here)

Yep, that’s right, France. Now why might be an interesting story, and with what effect, but alas don’t suppose we’ll hear about it from the 3bn per year Beeb.

From the New York Times:

“A year ago, British meteorologists made headlines predicting that the buildup of greenhouse gases would help make 2007 the hottest year on record. At year’s end, even though the British scientists reported the global temperature average was not a new record — it was actually lower than any year since 2001 — the BBC confidently proclaimed, “2007 Data Confirms Warming Trend.””

Read the whole thing. The BBC is highlighted here I think for good reason: they are among the worst offenders. (via NewsBusters)

Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may be moderated.

Occasionally one gets a glimpse into the mindset of the BBC- Charles Moore (as doubtless some will have noticed) has given an excellent insight into the BBC’s workings relating to a centre-right think tank with which he is involved. You might think that a patriotic approach identifying threats to society might be at least accorded neutral treatment. In a sane media it would be welcomed. The BBC though chose merely to try and undermine the research into Islamic extremism, cavilling at methods.

It’s fascinating to see the way the wheels turn, and against whom.

This from the institution who went the extra mile, going undercover to try and incriminate a leader of a british national party.

Israellycool doesn’t so much rip apart a recent BBC report on Israel’s actions over the Gazan border with Egypt as drive a truckload of explosive and unreported facts into it.

Complete with folksy BBC title “Pilgrims’ progress upsets Israel”, the report is a masterclass in omission, as Israellycool demonstrates ably, and with links for support.

I’ll paste the points he makes (edit: or rather, his co-blogger Elder of Ziyon makes) for your information here:

* Israel is not only “concerned” that terrorists are crossing the border; they identified up to two dozen of them.

* While Egypt might not have allowed Gazans to leave before today, they did allow some 85 terrorists to re-enter Gaza in late September and 30 more in October. This is pretty relevant to the story rather than just saying that Israel is “concerned.”

* By Egypt allowing Rafah to be opened, they are breaking existing agreements with Israel.

* Israel and the PA had created a mechanism for pilgrims to go to Hajj through Israel; the BBC implies that the Hajj pilgrims had no choice but to go through Rafah for their religious duties.

* Egypt’s opening of Rafah legitimizes Hamas as the leader of Gaza Palestinians; they ignored the wishes of Abbas and the PA, let alone Israel.

* Rafah is only supposed to be opened by the PA in the presence of EU observers who have all but abdicated their responsibilities – and the EU Rafah observers include some from Britain.

That the BBC is the only network credibly to offer the illusion of comprehensive coverage is among its most dangerous qualities. That it fails to cover comprehensively owing to its hubris and politicisation is painfully obvious.