Earley Morning

James Naughtie introducing a Steve Earle interview this morning: “The American singer-songwriter Steve Earle has been interviewed quite often on this programme over the years about his political views.” I can’t for the life of me think what it is about the political views of this anti-Bush, anti-war, anti-Guantanamo, anti-death penalty left-wing American singer-songwriter that makes him such a favourite on the Today programme. Click through to read and contribute … Continue reading

MORE NUTT

Briefly, for those who believe Professor Nutt is a genuine scientist who was martyred for uttering objective truths about drug use, I recommend this article by Melanie Phillips. Hat tip to Marky. There isn’t the space on this blog to analyse why he so richly deserved the sack, but from what I’ve seen so far of the BBC’s continued coverage this morning , you won’t see it there. And for … Continue reading

NUTT OUT (PART2)

The BBC is rousing itself today into a highly-predictable frenzy of indignation over the aftermath of Professor David Nutt’s justified sacking as head of the government drugs advisory committee. As a Biased BBC reader has pointed out, the pro-cocaine culture at the BBC is both illegal and has demonstrable victims. Now the BBC journalists are whipping this story up as if it were entirely a matter of academic freedom, when … Continue reading

Not Amused

For me, humour can overcome certain political views if it’s funny enough. The assumption that everyone will automatically agree is still irritating , but I can put that aside if there’s a good laugh in there. Did anyone see how miffed that Mark Steel fellow was when Ian Hislop called him a Stalinist on HIGNFY ? He was definitely bovvered. The thing I’m not so sure about is the stupid … Continue reading

QUESTION TIME?

I see that the BBC’s strange version of political ‘balance’ was in evidence again in this week’s edition of R4’s Any Questions? It was time for an appearance by UKIP (Marta Andreason, the former chief accountant of the EU,now an MEP for UKIP), so who is lined up against her? The ridiculous (but fanatic europhile) Charlie Faulkner, Shirley Williams (ditto) and from the Tories, one of the last remaining europhile … Continue reading

Blowing the Whistle

Did anyone else read Nick Cohen’s disturbing piece about whistleblower Derek Pasquill. He is bringing a case of unfair dismissal (hopeless) against the FCO. It isn’t true to say that the BBC hasn’t reported this subject, they have. But they focus on the ethics of whistleblowing itself rather than what was ‘blown.’Things more scandalous than several duck houses and home-flippings put together. Putting aside the fact that many people are … Continue reading

NUTT OUT

The BBC, of course, loves the idea of liberalising the drug laws, or better still, making hard drugs legal so that the boys and girls at White City can have oodles of their favourite white powder and waccy baccy. So when Alan Johnson – under pressure from dear Gordon – sacks Professor David Nutt for over-stepping his brief and lobbying to have cannabis re-classified (again) as a class ‘C’ drug, … Continue reading

Party Posturing (Part 2)

Credit where credit is due. Following Today’s attempted ambush of William Hague yesterday over the alleged Nazi sympathies of Michael Kaminski, the leader of Poland’s Law and Justice Party who are the Conservative party’s new European allies, the programme invited on this morning Michael Shudrich, Poland’s chief rabbi, to clarify whether or not – as David Miliband alleged yesterday – he believed Mr Kaminski was anti-semitic. Very cooly and precisely, … Continue reading

QUESTION TIME LIVE-CHAT TONIGHT

Tonights Question Time live-chat will be here. The programme itself comes from Llandudno and the panel will consist of the former home secretary Jacqui Smith MP, Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan MP, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Lembit Opik MP, Plaid Cymru’s Elfyn Llwyd and John Sergeant. <p><p><a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=96648f3459″ >Question Time 29th October</a></p></p> As usual, we’ll be staying open for business through This Week as well…..and hoping for … Continue reading

Party Posturing?

I listened with astonishment to the interview with David Miliband and William Hague on Today. Halfway through the interview about the uselessness of having a referendum after ratification, they started chatting about the spat over the Tory party’s partnership/ alliance with Poland. David Miliband is furious because he thinks remarks made by Polish MEP Michal Kaminski are antisemitic, even though the Chief Rabbi of Poland has come to Mr. Kaminski’s … Continue reading