Question Time LiveBlog 2nd February 2012

Tonight Question Time comes from Southport. David Dimbleby is joined by Southport by International Development Minister Alan Duncan, Shadow Justice Secretary and frequent Guido target Sadiq Khan, Labour ex-Minister Digby Jones, Emma Boon from the TaxPayers Alliance and Grange Hill writer Phil Redmond. As with last week, please remember that humour is good, sarcasm is fine, biting wit is even better but direct threats of violence and disgusting language are … Continue reading

Taken For a Ride

Here’s a strange one. It puts me in an unusual position, and could look as though I’m about to defend religious fundamentalism. That’s not what I’m trying to do.I had a message from someone who was offended by an item featured in the BBC World Service series “Outlook”.Before going any further, I ought to provide some context.In Israel there is a problematic issue that we might recognise. It echoes something … Continue reading

CZECH MATE

A B-BBC reader notes; “The BBC claims here that the President, Prime Minister and people of the Czech Republic are all against the pact. “The country’s influential – and Eurosceptic – president, Vaclav Klaus, has already told Mr Necas he will not sign Czech accession to the fiscal compact. So even if the Czech prime minister wanted to join it (he doesn’t), the president would not let him.” “even if the … Continue reading

A Date in Tunis

Wyre Davies is a nice chap. Like Eric Idle, Wyre always looks on the bright side of life. He was in Tunisia, happily soaking up the atmosphere of optimism surrounding the glorious Arab Spring and basking in the warm glow of the inclusive and moderate Islamism of Rachid Ghannouchi’s newly elected Ennahda party. What a shame that Wyre had missed the joyous story of Ennahda’s first diplomatic move, their generous … Continue reading

A FORCE FOR GOOD

BBC World Service journalist Piers Scholfield asks a question about Super PACs: What’s “a force for good” in the eyes of a BBC World Service journalist? The link takes you to this article about a Vermont-based Super PAC called “Americans For a Better Tomorrow, Today”. Here’s what they stand for: The group wants to highlight the issues and values brought into focus by the Occupy movement, including progressive tax policies, … Continue reading

WHEN GOOD NEWS IS NO NEWS

The BBC really is the last bastion of defence for bloated Public Sector finances. Biased BBC contributor Alan notes; ‘Public sector workers will be “dramatically” better off in retirement and receive significantly higher wages than those in the private sector.’  Not so, suggests the BBC.  Fascinating example of BBC deliberately down playing good news for the public sector employees and choosing words very carefully to give the facts but in … Continue reading