Here we go with a new and on-time Open Thread. Off you go…!

In his first tweet in over a year BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott seems to think that a parody article about Sarah Palin at the Daily Currant is real: Sarah Palin is reported as claiming that Jesus Celebrated Easter, telling his apostles how to "convert homosexuals". http://t.co/5UmjiePasB — Robert Pigott (@PigottRobert) October 24, 2013 He’s in good moronic company – Piers Morgan fell for it too (and then pretended … Continue reading →

Sorry this is a tad later but off you go…

Will in the comments notes this from the Telegraph: Lord Hall told MPs that he wants to see more regional accents on the corporation’s programmes and have more programming on life outside London. Asked if the BBC has a “snobbery” against regional accents, Lord Hall said: “I think it doesn’t matter what people sound like in terms of their accents. I happen to think Merseyside accents are great, I would … Continue reading →

  Anyone heard of ‘Ovo Energy’? Probably not. Which raises the question why would the BBC give them a nice little spot on its UK News page and ‘report’ their comments without challenge?   In this post I noted that energy minister, Ed Davey, had said: ‘Rising gas prices have been the cause of rising energy bills at the moment.’   Thoughtful in the comments linked to a BBC ‘report’ … Continue reading →

    Bit of a sea change at the BBC…at least in parts. There must have been an official memo come down from on high that demanded a more honest and open exploration of the issues surrounding immigration. The BBC has had a few looks at David Goodhart’s book ‘The British Dream’, we have had a programme from Victoria Derbyshire that didn’t seek to hide the true reasons for many … Continue reading →

    Couple of interesting comments that went completely unremarked…and considering the huge political fuss about energy companies raising prices you might have thought they were somewhat noteworthy.   Ed Davey, energy minister, on Today (08:16) stated that: ‘Rising gas prices have been the cause of rising energy bills at the moment.’   Cameron when talking about the nuclear power station deal and pricing said that it was cheaper than … Continue reading →

    Yet another religious wind bag (apologies to anyone who actually likes religious windbaggery).   Even a Labour man looks askance at the new Archbishop of Canterbury as he does a bit of pious grandstanding on behalf of the Labour Party (and is always given a headline or two on the Beeb)….without any solutions to the problems he raises it might be added. Dan Hodges cocks a snook: The … Continue reading →

  Can someone explain to me exactly what it is that the BBC finds so compelling about Mehdi Hasan? Because the more you see of the real Mehdi Hasan, the Islamic preacherman, the less there is that could surely justify the BBC’s elevation of him to the position of authoritative, credible and ethical spokesman for Muslims. We looked a while back at the two sides of Mehdi Hasan, his slick … Continue reading →

The BBC is determined to ensure that whatever the Coalition does, it is never quite enough. For decades, the BBC seemed content at the impasse that has been created over the future for nuclear energy here. Now, at last, a decision IS made and the UK can expect one new nuclear power station in ten years time, and good old Aunty is doing everything possible to pour cold water on … Continue reading →