The BBC has been digesting the budget and I was a tad surprised to hear none other than Chris Huhne invited on the Today programme this morning around 6.45am to give his judgement on the green credentials of the Coalition. The swivel eyed eco-loon former jail bird Huhne is hardly a bastion of balanced opinion but Evan Davies nonetheless was happy to let him ramble.

Brand new OPEN THREAD to see us all off into the wild blue yonder of the weekend. The floor belongs to you….

Iraqi gunmen launched a three hour assault on British troops with the aim of killing them all……the Iraqis ended up dead or captured…the survivors now complain they were questioned oppressively and shouted at quite loudly.

They want money…no sorry, justice….and they knew, or thought they did, just the man to get it for them.

Lawyer Phil Shiner has been filling his boots at tax payers expense for quite some time (The Iraqi team is publically funded by the Legal Services Commission)…..(thanks to Rob in the comments for drawing our attention to this story)……a frequent guest of Victoria Derbyshire no doubt she is clearing the decks for tomorrow and a few words of apology and remorse from Shiner as he tries to explain away how he has managed to find no evidence of British forces unlawfully killing Iraqis…despite £22 million being wasted on this so far.

Al-Sweady Inquiry: Iraq unlawful killing claims dropped

42 weeks of inquiry, 281 ‘witnesses’…and nothing….

A public inquiry into whether UK soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians in custody in 2004 has heard their relatives no longer believe there is enough evidence to back the claims.

However have no fear, Phil Shiner and Co won’t be on the breadline:

There remain numerous allegations of violent and other ill-treatment of Iraqi Civilians in British custody which the Inquiry will have to consider.

Derbyshire will still have something to fill the airwaves with even if it is just the sound of ‘ambulance chasing’ lawyers whistling in the dark for their money.

She must be getting worried though…what with Moazzem Begg getting himself arrested, such a disappointment, and now Shiner having the shine taken off his bilge…..that’s got to be half the year’s schedule that might have to be filled with something else other than……what’s it called? …’Lawfare’ …for when warfare fails…..a certainty she can hustle up a few welfare claimants who are ‘genuinely’ on the breadline….never mind the car, 4 Rottweilers,  six kids and all mod cons.

Top Gear went to Burma looking for the River Kwai but ended up up the River Kok without a bridge…so they built one….and Clarkson made his comment about the bridge having a slope…and all hell broke loose….well a few determined-to-be-offended liberals mobilised Twitter.

Just as well Clarkson wasn’t in London then….who knows what he would have said about this…..

At least there’s someone with a sense of humour, something that the uptight liberal thought police seem to have mislaid.

Sue at ‘Is the BBC biased’ has posted on this from the ‘Life Scientific’:

I listened to the delightful Anne Glover, professor of molecular and cell biology at Aberdeen University amongst other things, and one thing in particular resonated with me, and stayed in my mind. The strap line to her episode states:

“Opposing GM crops is a form of madness” 

I heard the interview as well and that was a stand out phrase…though not BBC bias it does illustrate perfectly the arrogant assumption that ‘they’ know best….and of course that attitude is reflected in how climate change sceptics are in fact treated by the BBC.

Interesting though…bit of a quandary for the Green Party who have been demanding all climate change sceptics be banned from the Public discourse, and indeed political positions…..doesn’t that position lead to the same demand for Greens who oppose GM crops against the scientific consensus?

Logic demands….?

Another example of the arrogant assumption of God’s mantle is Matthew Parris….again not strictly BBC bias but closely related….Parris is an oft employed zero hours contractor for the BBC and a Tory wet…possibly closely related to Justin Webb.

Tory James Brokenshire raised the idea that the ‘metropolitan elite’ are to blame for mass immigration…and of course they are…it was the Labour Party’s very own ‘metropolitan elite’ who opened the borders and flooded the UK with immigrants whilst deliberately hiding the fact by lying about the numbers expected and the effects such an influx would have on wages and jobs.

Parris harrumphed loudly in indignation in the Times (paywalled):

Panicked Tories are attacking their own voters

James Brokenshire blames the ‘metropolitan elite’ for fuelling immigration. He’s either suffered a brainstorm or gone rogue.

Panicking Tory wet attacks panicking Tories?

He calls Brokenshire ”pitiable’ and a ‘demented ferret’ rampaging against the guilty.

Brokenshire’s speech, he tell us, is ‘half-witted, disjointed, cliche ridden nonsense’…the stock in trade of the likes of rancid populists such as Juan Peron or Nigel Farrage……

Apparently it’s all ‘cab driver’ speak….so there you have it….Parris, member of the metropolitan elite has come out….don’t listen to the working class man….f**k the rancid views of the plebs.

Noting cliche ridden about Parris then.

Parris goes on to say that opposing immigration is insane and uncivilised….why didn’t the PM disown these ‘ravings’, these dog whistling to UKIP inclined Tory voter  ideas? he asks.

An EU referendum?  Cameron must have had a brainstorm that makes him susceptible to the grubby fascist entreaties from the Terrible Tory Right.

He clings to the hope that Cameron, when he regains his rationality and liberal mindedness, will reject controls on immigration.

Finally he suggests we all just shut up about immigration.

Sounds an awful lot like Mark Easton who told us we must just learn to love immigration and reap the benefits.

You can see why the BBC likes him.

Well, the BBC response to the Budget has almost been as sneering and begrudging as that of Miliband. I heard Peston earlier today and he was doing all he could to make it all seem a bit of a flop. I also understand that one Labour MP was on BBC Newsnight last evening to inform us that “People can’t be trusted to have their whole pension at once.’ This incredibly patronising comment seems to resonate with so many of the BBC experts as they push the line that we dare not give people choice. I suppose that is inevitable coming from an organisation that itself refuses to give us any choice as to whether we fund it? Thoughts on their coverage?

It’s Wednesday and it’s also Budget Day!  I see that the comrades at the BBC have sent Evan Davies up to Newcastle to gain insight into opinion on the state of the economy. Ah, that impartiality – I’m just surprised it wasn’t Liverpool airport! Anyway, a new Open Thread for you!

“Strong public broadcasting spurs a ‘race to the top’ between public and commercial media, raising overall standards across the industry. This contributes towards the sector’s economic success, cultural vibrancy and audience satisfaction.”

This post is based upon a speech given by Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, at the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Conference on Wednesday 27 November 2013.

From this speech come a few interesting points…the first being about the Voice of the Listener & Viewer organisation.

You might think that it was representing the viewer and listener…the general public in other words…maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t……how many of you have ever heard of it?

VLV represents the citizen and consumer interests in broadcasting, and speaks for listeners and viewers on the full range of broadcasting issues. We use our independent expertise to champion quality and diversity, respond to consultations, produce policy briefings, conduct research and work for public service broadcasting that informs, educates and entertains. We also run events and  conferences. Find out how you can support VLV, keep up with our work, or join us.

It supports the independence, integrity and secure funding of the BBC and the work of broadcasters and programme suppliers who demonstrate commitment to public service broadcasting.

However its staff seem to be, surprise surprise, packed with ex-BBC types…out of eleven board members six are ex-BBC:

Colin Browne – Chairman
Colin Browne was co-opted onto the VLV Board in March. He has wide experience of broadcasting and the media. He was Director, Corporate Affairs at the BBC from 1994-2000

Toni Charlton – Honorary Treasurer
During a 35 year career with the BBC, Toni climbed the production ladder to become an Events Producer in Television Outside Broadcasts, before doing project management roles for BBC News and five years as the Chief Assistant for BBC Drama.

Sophie Chalk
Sophie Chalk has worked as a producer/director in television and radio since 1989. Credits as a producer/director include TVam, GTMV, Sky News, Yorkshire Television, Jazz FM, BBC World Service and Radio 4. She set up the independent production company, Rooftop Productions in 1998, and joined IBT as Director of Campaigns in 2006

David Eggington
A VLV visit to BBC Radio Merseyside in 1999 led to him becoming a volunteer member of the station’s ‘A’ Team for a couple of years answering listeners’ queries.

Dinah Garrett
Dinah worked for almost 20 years in corporate affairs at the BBC, finally responsible for corporate events and publications, public consultations and the BBC’s accountability programme. She devised and produced seminars, major launches and workshops for specific stakeholders and interest groups around the UK and in Europe.

Wendy Jones
Wendy Jones is a  journalist and communications specialist with an extensive background in broadcasting. Her BBC career included nine years as education correspondent, reporting/presenting for Today and other news and current affairs programmes, and roles as deputy secretary and head of edcuation policy and public affairs.

Amongst many current objectives are these, to:

• Safeguard the independence of BBC governance and the quality and range of BBC programmes and services by supporting the licence fee until such time as another method is developed that provides the same benefits
• Support the principles of public service broadcasting around the world.

Hmmm…seems more like an undercover arm of the BBC…..influencing government PSB media policy on behalf of the BBC by stealth.

It does seem more concerned with protecting the Public Service Broadcasters than with connecting the viewer and listener to those PSB organisations and having their voices heard within them….as you can see here that is a major aim of the VLV….and much appreciated by the BBC:

What they say about VLV

“British Broadcasting is the best in the world, but now its future is threatened. If you want to help ensure its quality, please join me in supporting VLV which is doing so much to protect the principle of public service in broadcasting.”  –          Sir David Attenborough

“it (VLV) has emerged as the most important champion of television and radio consumers by consistently pressing for the retention and extension of high-quality public service broadcasting”. – Roy Greenslade

“the BBC’s senior managers regard it (VLV) as the only organisation that speaks from the licence-payer’s perspective while offering passionate support for public service broadcasting” – Tim Luckhurst

You can make your own mind up about just how far down the road the VLV has gone to being an advocate for the BBC rather than for its listeners and viewers but Tony Hall’s speech has other interesting points….

This sentence stood out:

‘Nothing makes the case for the BBC more eloquently than what we do in news.’

Well not even those in the BBC believe that….Paxman has famously slated BBC news as consisting mostly of press releases and being reactive rather than proactive not seeking out stories and investigating events and issues……yesterday I posted comments by Nic Newman who also criticised BBC news, amongst others.

So no, BBC news, as is, does not make the case for the existence of the BBC…the grand philosophy behind the concept makes a case for a PSB news service but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

Hall stated this:

I want to make three arguments today. First, that the existence of the BBC is essential to the production of high-quality programmes and content.

Second, that licence fee payers have a right to expect not just quality but also value for money.

And third, that making continual efficiency savings leaves the BBC facing very hard choices about the work it does. And we will need you – the viewer, the listener and the licence fee payer – as our guide and support as we make these decisions.

You can judge for yourself how the BBC does on those points but here is another splendid one that Hall makes:

I want a BBC that feels different, where our audiences are on the inside, helping us to be the best we can be.

A central part of my vision for the BBC is that it is not just paid for by its viewers and listeners, it belongs to them, to you. The sense of ownership that I want to create is the direct descendant of your original protest. Digital technology now means that we are able to hand to our listeners and viewers a huge amount of control that 30 years ago we kept to ourselves.

No listener or viewer should ever have to feel a sense of powerless frustration that the BBC they want has succumbed to a BBC they didn’t ask for, because in future individuals will have the ability to control the BBC themselves.

Of course that isn’t what you think…you might think I want a BBC that reports the truth about the EU or immigration, or Labour’s responsibility for the economic crash or Islam…….that’s not what he means…Hall is merely allowing you to watch the programme you want when you want…maybe.

So that sense of powerless frustration that you are getting a BBC that you didn’t ask for…still going to be there.

Hall likes his figures…especially if they are presenting the BBC in a good light.

Here he compares the BBC 20 years ago and today:

Note the BBC has 42% share of TV and Radio…so pretty dominant.

Hall goes on to talk up the BBC based on a BBC survey carried out by Populus.  He claims the BBC are top of the pile…a global leader….but that is slightly disingenuous because it is based not on a global poll about the BBC but on a poll conducted in each country about their own TV services…

The UK came out top.

72% of people here said that UK TV programmes overall are of good quality – the highest out of all the countries surveyed. And out of 66 major TV channels around the world, BBC One came out top.

He does say ‘72% of people here‘ but that is easily overlooked especially in a speech and gives a rather better impression of the BBC than perhaps it deserves.

This is of course part of Hall’s strategy when talking to government, part of the negotiations for the Charter renewal…..the People love and value the BBC above all others Hall assures, persuades Government….the Empire is striking back…and as you may have just heard the proposal to make not paying a TV license fee a civil offence has been amended…after enormous BBC pressure apparently No 10 has ‘persuaded’ the author, MP Andrew Bridgen, to allow a change that now delays implementation until the Charter renewal talks begin.

Another part is his reference to this study, commissioned by the BBC:

Global study confirms public service broadcasting has positive effect on commercial broadcasting

Public service broadcasting promotes a ‘race to the top’ with the commercial sector, according to a new report published by the BBC today.

Daniel Wilson, BBC Head of International Policy, says: “The suggestion that the BBC and public service broadcasting crowd out commercial investment misunderstands the dynamics at play in the UK creative sector. In practice, the BBC’s presence has had the opposite effect.

No surprise that this is the same argument that Harriet ‘we’re all BBC now’ Harman deploys when she demands special treatment for the Labour friendly broadcaster.

So pardon me for being sceptical about a very self-serving report that makes the BBC the crucial inspiration and driving force  creating quality, competition (ha ha) and innovation in broadcasting in this country.

The BBC are hustling this story on every news bulletin and, Newsnight like, whipping it up into a candy floss confection of spin, smear and half truths….note trigger words and phrases embedded to suggest a very clear line of thought…‘guilty secrets‘ being destroyed:

Met Police corruption probe papers shredded ‘over two days’

New details about the mass shredding of documents relating to a corruption inquiry in the Metropolitan Police have been uncovered by BBC News.

It is understood the inquiry produced a “lorry-load” of material and that the shredding took place over two days.

The material that was shredded was from a broader, top-secret investigation into possible police corruption that began in 1993 and came to be known as Operation Othona.

Operation Othona is understood to have generated so much material that it is highly unlikely it could have been destroyed by mistake.

Former officers and staff with experience of record keeping in the Met at the time have told the BBC the mass shredding was disturbing, bizarre and suspicious.

It has bolstered the possibility that the material was deleted because it contained information that implicated officers or damaged the force’s reputation....They also said it was highly unusual to destroy paper records of recent investigations.

However, the ex-officers could not rule out an innocent explanation for the shredding.

What the BBC doesn’t report is the actual words of the Lawrence inquiry review which suggested that any order to ‘smear’ the Lawrences would likely have been verbal and so not in the records…so shredding wouldn’t be necessary to hide that…and that shredding records was routine rather than ‘bizarre, disturbing and suspicious‘…

Page 27

There is no surviving record that we have seen that supports Mr Francis’ claim that he, or any other officer, was tasked to report back intelligence that might be used to ‘smear’ or undermine the Lawrence family. However, the weight of the material that we have considered makes it clear that the majority of the records of SDS work in the era have been destroyed. In addition, if there had been such tasking, it would most likely have been oral rather than recorded in writing.

Page 21

There are very few documentary records capable of providing insight into the veracity of Mr Francis’ claim that he was “tasked to find intelligence that might be used by the MPS to smear the Lawrence family”.  A number of possible explanations have been advanced as to why.

These include the suggestion that incoming intelligence reports were routinely destroyed after SDS office analysis and intermittent ‘document review’.

As with other MPS records, it does not appear that any clear records were ever kept of what was being destroyed.  Accordingly, in our view little weight can be attached to the fact that no record can be found to confirm any relevant aspect of claimed SDS activity.

Routine destruction is one of ‘a number of possibilities’…but it is the one the Review highlighted…presumably as the most likely…..and the one the BBC ignores….despite the Review suggesting ‘ little weight can be attached to the fact that no record can be found to confirm any relevant aspect of claimed SDS activity.‘

The BBC is attaching quite a lot of weight to the allegations….there may be substance to them but the BBC looks to have already found the Met. guilty.

From WUWT:

It turns out that it is the Potheads and not the Petrolheads who are destroying the planet with vast clouds of CO2, guzzling water vast resources and using huge quantities of electricity……

• During California’s growing season, outdoor grows consumed roughly 60 million gallons of water a day – 50% more than is used by all residents of San Francisco.
• In California, indoor pot growing accounts for about 9% of household electricity use.
• For every pound of pot grown indoors, 4600lbs of carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere. California’s production equates to emissions of 3 million cars.

Not saying any of the creative types at the BBC who lecture us about climate change should be feeling any guilt, nor their artistically gifted friends….but dude..you’re destroying the planet!!!  Stick to cocaine man, it’s more environmentally friendly!