Mark Mardell's The World This Weekend wasn't going to let the whole IDS thing throw it off course. It was sticking with the EU referendum.
The bit I want to highlight, bias-wise, is MM's interview with the two Northern businessmen.
The bias came in the different ways they were questioned. The questions to the pro-Leave businessman were less helpful, less open, and more targeted (and contradicting) than those put to the pro-Remain businessman.
Here are Mark Mardell's questions. As they say in exam papers (or used to in my day), "Compare and contrast":
Questions to the pro-Leave businessman
- But are you worried what will happen if we leave the European Union? Will it make it more difficult for you to trade in Europe?
- But all the products that are sitting around us that might go to Europe, you'd still have to obey all the same laws, wouldn't you?
- (interrupting) So why leave?
- (interrupting) Rules and regulations on your business?
- (interrupting) But isn't that the point? That you'd still have to do those things to your business if you want to sell in Europe?
- So if we left, you're clearly saying from your business point of view, it wouldn't be worse. Would it actually be better do you think?
Questions to the pro-Remain businessman
- If we left, would that be in any danger at all?
- So, there'll be uncertainty if we left. But couldn't it be better afterwards?
- What do you think about getting trade deals and selling to the rest of the world?
- But does being in the European Union actually help you do what you do, help your business?
