Another day, another BBC failure to declare their commentators’ activism. Politics Live today brought on a headmaster to chat about 12 hour school days. Surprise surprise, he was full of criticism for the government and robust words for Tory MP Kieran Mullan…
Andrew O’Neil spends his time attending Labour events and praising “fantastic” Starmer for finally having “some policy and fresh ideas”. Naturally he thinks Sunak is a “disgrace” and covers his Twitter with support for campaigning Labour candidates, along with calls for an election to boot the Tories out. When he gets out he follows Labour Shadow Cabinet members around for selfies. As always, O’Neil is entitled to his views and the BBC is equally entitled to air them, though viewers have a right to know his partisan credentials…
Daily Sceptic editor Toby Young has just submitted a complaint to the BBC for failing to challenge or provide any correction for eco-activist and bird-sniffing presenter Chris Packham’s claim that the website is “put together by a bunch of professionals with close associations to the fossil fuel industry.” The ‘climate resistance’ are fans of wild funding allegations with no basis in fact…
Young points out, as he did after the Kuenssberg show was broadcast on Sunday, that neither he nor any of the people who put together the website have any affiliations of funding from the fossil fuel industry. He wasn’t challenged on the show and the clip was tweeted out subsequently with no clarification. One for Marianna Spring and the BBC Verify sleuths to look into no doubt…
Co-conspirators can lodge their own complaints here…
UPDATE: The BBC issues a weak response:
”During a discussion with the panel about various issues including climate change, broadcaster and conservationist Chris Packham claimed that the Daily Sceptic, whose editor in chief is Toby Young, is “basically put together by a bunch of professionals with close affiliations to the fossil fuel industry.” We acknowledge we would ideally have asked him to present his evidence on this, but in a fast-moving live programme it’s not always possible to pick up on every point made by our guests. We’ve removed any posts on X with this part of the discussion.”
Read Toby Young’s full complaint below:
While the BBC licence fee payers dig deep into their pockets to cover the increased fee, they can take solace knowing that their hard-earned cash is helping top-tier journalists enjoy Italian getaways. One senior BBC executive couldn’t help but boast of her swanky Italian conference she and her fellow colleagues attend on an annual basis. Cue poetic pennings of the quaint Italian city and its food…
Guido contacted the BBC to ask how many staff went and how much it cost. He got a muted response:
“The BBC is one of the most high-profile and respected international news organisations and as such, journalists are often invited to speak at international journalism events. Speakers are listed on the Perugia Festival website.”
Seven BBC staff were speakers at the event, though Jess Brammar wasn’t one of them, which suggests there were many more BBC staff than just those speakers who went to the “beautiful” town. La dolce vita…
The BBC has just announced Huw Edwards’ resignation “on medical advice”. He was taken off air last July following allegations he was paying for explicit pictures. A few months ago the Met Police wouldn’t say who is under investigation…
When there’s a new sleaze scandal every week you can forgive the BBC for getting its whipless Tories mixed up. A segment on the BBC News 1 p.m. bulletin detailing Labour’s calls for a police investigation into Mark Menzies featured a smooth montage of photos…of Will Wragg. Easy sleazy to get them confused…
Readers will remember that BBC presenter Martine Croxall was taken off air after boasting of her ‘gleeful’ reaction to Boris pulling out of the leadership race in October 2022. The BBC said at the time that “remarks and reactions… caused a significant risk the audience could believe opinions were being expressed on the Conservative leadership contest.” Croxall’s glee wasn’t long for this world, though…
When the cost-cutting BBC had 18 presenters apply for five roles in a “merger”, Croxall lost out. She was taken off air for nearly a year. Now she’s suing the corporation for discrimination. The case is listed for a central London employment tribunal on the 1st of May, where Croxall is suing for age discrimination, sex discrimination, and equal pay. Litigation solves everything…
