Britannia Radio

Biased BBC

Sunday, October 19, 2008 David Vance # JOE THE PLUMBER Fascinating to read this example of character assassination the BBC runs on Joe Wurzelbacher aka "Joe the Plumber". The way this US election has turned out, the BBC has become a partisan propagandist for Democrat talking points. At every point away, it has chosen to run the Democrat perspective on every issue and when an unscheduled item such as Joe the Plumber breaks through the MSM filter - and challenges Obama - the knives are out. I'm sure B-BBC well read readers will know that criticisms repeated here of Mr Wurzelbacher are spurious but they are part of a well co-ordinated attack dog strategy by the Democrats and the BBC obliges by parroting them.<> Comments: 24 (unread) - Biased BBC Home David Vance # OBAMA OR DOOM. I see that Simon Schama, he who the BBC is using to present "The American Future" series is of the opinion that America has to chooseObama - or certain doom. Clearly no hint of bias there. Comments: 10 (unread) - Biased BBC Home Laban # Curiouser and curiouser ... Last weekend UK immigration minister Phil Woolas penned a remarkable Sunday Times piece in which he outlined a radical departure from previous Labour Party policy on immigration. "Employers should, he believes, put British people first" "We need a tougher immigration policy and we need to stop seeing it as a dilemma. It's not. It's easy. I'm going to do my best to help the British back to work" "It's been too easy to get into this country in the past and it's going to get harder" "We have to have a population policy and that means at some point we will be able to set a limit on migration. This Government isn't going to allow the population of this country to go up to 70 million. There has to be a balance between the number of people coming in and the number of people leaving." Only a few years back Labour Party policy was "no limit" to either immigration or population. But things have changed. The scale of demographic change is massive, voters are increasingly concerned about immigration - and the boom years are over. The crunch is upon us. The current UK situation ticks most of the boxes for the rise of a far-right party. In such a situation it's electorally important to the Labour Party to be seen to be getting "tough on immigration". The message needs to get to the voters. And this is where it gets a little curious. Phil Woolas' piece was last Sunday. BBC news didn't mention it, the Today programme ignored it from Monday to Friday. Only one or two left-wing bloggers picked it up. But come Saturday morning, the story is the lead on BBC Radio news (and for all I know on television too - anyone know ?), it leads the Today Programme at 7 am - pretty much the same time the story hits the website. By the afternoon bulletins the coverage emphasises the criticism from pro-immigration lobbyists - which does no harm at all to a government wanting to appear tough and decisive (plenty of outrage from left bloggers now - all triggered by yesterday's BBC coverage). Amazing. From a story not covered at all for six days - to the major weekend lead on the seventh. Just what Labour need to shore up that crumbling working-class vote. You do have to wonder if someone from the government didn't get on the phone to the BBC last week. Just, you know, to point out gently that we place a great deal of importance on Mr Woolas' words ... the issue is one that concerns the stability of our communities ... difficult times ahead ... all need to work together in the national interest ... and could the BBC give the story a bit more prominence ? Comments: 10 (unread) - Biased BBC Home