On behalf of ITBBCB? readers, I should like to reciprocate the good wishes to you, Craig and Sue. You always provide an incisive and interesting read, and an outlet for readers' opinions not often shared by our national broadcaster. Well Done. Let's all look forward to much more of the same, and possibly some new bias forms for 2019.
I peered into my crystal ball and saw these BBC website stories appearing in 2019...
"20,000 teenagers diagnosed with Brexit Anxiety Depression and Sensitivity Syndrome as no deal Brexit approaches. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to blame for BADASS, claims ex Tory MP Sarah Wollaston."
"Trending: Does the BBC Website have too many headlines to tendentious stories that end in a question mark?"
"Praise for BBC from Yvette Cooper and UN Commissioner as it cuts out the middle man and brings in 4,000 refugees directly from France by cruise liner. Macron lauds BBC's contribution to humanitarian effort to clear France of refugees. Lily Allen sings the refugees ashore, to loud applause from the 28 BBC reporters present."
"Tony is now Antoinette...Tony Hall has announced that in future he is to be known as Antoinette Hall. He will be the first TG DG in BBC history."
"Chancellor of the Exchequer Jacob Rees-Mogg announces that all criminal penalties for non payment of licence fee are to be removed. There is a run on the pound as a result, according to Kamal Ahmed."
"Lord Dimbleby of Highborn Manor claims he is not posh because he was a coalman in previous life."
"Jonathan Dimbleby claims he is not posh because he once had an full English breakfast in a transport caf and because he hates Tories."
"Little Lord Dimbleby claims he is not posh because he never really liked playing Eton Fives."
"Queen announces she isn't posh as she only met Lord Dimbleby once."
"Diane Abbott says she is not racist because she is just as hostile to white Americans as she is to white Europeans."
"Alistair Campbell admits he is tattooed with the number of the beast but 'still hopes we can rejoin the EU before 2025'. "
"Fiona Bruce muffs her lines, introducing Polly Toynbee an 'antique piece who has seen some wear and tear in her time - if you look closely it is clear the head is missing some vital infill'. "
My prediction for 2019 is that the BBC's flagship Match of the Day will be an all woman programme. Gary will be replaced by Clare, Kirsty or Gabby. There will be equal time allotted to the women's game, with breathless pitch-side commentaries from all female commentators. Male pundits such as Jermaine will be replaced - found wanting by the new all female production team - for having insufficient detailed knowledge of the women's game.
You're right Clockwork...that's like saying "That is a far more penetrating analysis of this important social issue than I have ever seen on The One Show". :)
Just to wish Craig, Sue and all the great commentators here a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - for me, ITBB is a good-natured haven of sanity in our increasingly bonkers, belligerent and biased media landscape. A heartfelt thanks for all your work this year.
Sandi Toksvig who relies on BBC patronage (and C4) for her income,said today:
‘Too often, there are complaints in the British papers about the BBC. It’s too left wing, too right wing, too pro-Brexit, too anti and so on. It’s only when you go abroad and try to find out what is going on in the world that everyone falls with gratitude before the BBC News. I believe it is the most balanced and fair reporting available anywhere and worth every penny of the licence fee. There are lots of things I like on TV, but nothing else I regard as absolutely essential.’
Pass the sick bucket...while I pay my licence fee.
So she's saying DR, the state-funded Danish analogue of the BBC, is biased? Bet she never says that when back home in Denmark.
She can't claim to be unbiased herself as she is a founder and active member of the Women's Equality Party - a left wing, extreme feminist party. If she's feeling the BBC "gets it about right" that tell us something.
The party's manifesto is full of gender bias including the claim that although girls do better than boys in exams, girls should still be give MORE not less educational help in relation to boys!
"It’s only when you go abroad and try to find out what is going on in the world that everyone falls with gratitude before the BBC News." ... Can somebody remind me why I have to pay for news broadcasts abroad?
Why does he feel the need to express support for a Hungarian-American who is interfering in our country's politics by unashamedly funding the so called "People's Vote" rigged rerun of our democratic Referendum?
Javid is most definitely not fit to be a Prime Minister of a proud nation, the UK.
Mark Kermode's survey of the films of the year was riddled with the usual SJW asides but one statement was breath-taking. He tried to slip through the idea that "Solo" had been successful at the box-office! Yes, the Solo which has been so successful that it caused the instant cancellation of all pending Star Wars spin-offs and generated the widespread opinion that Disney has one last shot at getting a Star Wars film right if it is to save the franchise at all. It's one thing to hawk around nonsense opinions that might have some justification, however far-fetched. It's another to try to sell blatant untruths unjustifiable on any level.
A dangerous interview between one Far Right extremist and another...according to the BBC. What do you expect to find? Irrational invective? Hate speech? Fake News?
Or civilised, reasoned debate of the type you'll never hear on Today, Question Time or Newsnight.
A lot of this is just regurgitated stuff but nowhere do they make clear that, as far as I can see, the conviction for manslaughter stands.
The point about homicide crimes is that they can easily result from "mistakes" - honest ones included. Perhaps you shouldn't have had that extra double whisky...then you might not have got in that fight where you killed someone...the decision to have the extra double was an honest mistake, not part of your normal pattern of behaviour but still, it does not excuse the crime.
Perhaps you shouldn't have arranged the mirrors in your shop so that it confused people and led to them falling down stairs to their death...an honest mistake, agreed, but still one that could result in a manslaughter conviction.
But this is the BBC. It's Fake News not facts, it's all about creating a mood not reporting facts or explaining the law.
I didn't. I wasn't aware of that clause in that public order Act but I guess the judges interpret that as only applying to a public order context. Lord Pearson (though he is the only Parliamentarian deserving of any respect among the 1200 plus members currently around) doesn't seem to appreciate there are discrete areas of law. You might not be threatening public order, but you might be offending against that Blairite legal confection known as "equality". So, it's useful to know about but it makes not a jot of difference to how the law is being applied - ie to stifle free speech, undermine democracy and frustrate the popular will.
The most disgusting thing about the BBC Newsnight piece was the fact that they blurred out any reference to Chelsey Wright.
Having once again not covered the story at the time, this was really a slap in the face as it evaded context - the reason that the march was held in the first place is that the BBC doesn't do its job.
For those not aware of the Chelsey Wright story, here are some articles and vids which track it.
I'm putting the final Sunderland Echo article forward for the 2019 Gabriel Gatehouse Award For Weaslery. Seeds of doubt sprinkled liberally to lead the reader to a conclusion not written, yet somehow a bit fishy.
Brave Sunderland woman speaks out following kidnap, gang rape and brutal attack :
Sarah Phelps, writer of the ABC Murders on BBC One says of the screenplay that she wanted modernise Agatha Christie and draw out the murderers hatred of foreigners.
I looked at her twitter feed - full of anti-Brexit, anti -Trump tweets and retweeted James O’Brien bile.
Aha - I smell a rat - like so much of the BBCs current output, it’s your typical left liberal PC propaganda masquerading as drama.
It's drama without the drama. Just another sermon from the pulpit. About as appetising as a dried up sponge cake made with egg powder and artificial cream.
Somewhere I read that she got a media "Race" award once upon a time for no doubt something worthy she wrote or produced. I can't remember what. These were awards that typically went to black/Asian people in the media.
Say what you like about Mark Easton, he does lead from the front (like some mad bloodthirsty officer from the Great War, in love with slaughter).
We're not yet in 2019 and here he is on the BBC TV News leading yet another futile anti-Brexit charge, this time in alliance with Cressida "Shoot!Shoot! Shoot!" Dick.
It's all right for him, but all over the muddy field of media, the BBC's credibility is lying in shreds.
The BBC did not mention one positive security gain from a (real, not May's) Leave option. The most obvious is that criminal gangs from Eastern Europe won't be able to simply walk into our country and set up shop with their knocking shops, drug smuggling, people smuggling and all the rest.
The next gain is that IS and Al Queda operatives won't be so easily able to make their way into our country from terrorist hot spots like Paris and Brussels. Another security gain is that we won't be part of the EU's confrontational policies towards Putin's Russia which have already led to so much grief.
A final security gain is that we will not be part of the EU's pathetic attempt to match the USA's reach and power, which is a destabilising factor in the (relatively) free world.
However, according to Fake News BBC, there are only security gains to be had through remaining in the EU.
MB - Equally, Ms. Dick’s latest foray into predicting what ‘could’ happen if she stayed at current levels of contingency competence have likewise not been greeted by MSM audiences perhaps as credulously as they had all hoped.
Yup! She's just bright enough to realise that she ticks a couple of PC (not Police Constable) boxes which go down well with the BBC/Guardian etc left-wing media.
It's odd that Ms Dick sees the outcome of the UK democratic process as creating an unsafe environment, whereas the denial of democracy by slight of hand would be preferred (from a policing point of view). Who are the police there to serve - the public or duplicitous politicians?
I know we should still be ho-ho-ho-ing... it would be nice to continue in a festive mood. But the sad truth is that May is counting on that. Never underestimate her low cunning, as opposed to her energetic pursuit of high principle.
She is clearly counting on all that turkey, all those mince pies and all that good will taking their toll and weakening the will of those who oppose her "Abject Surrender Deal".
But nothing has changed.
The ERG just have to grit their teeth and oppose her Abject Surrender. What else can they do? No sane and patriotic person could ever approve it.
If 50 or 60 patriotic ERG members continue in their obduracy that then leads to either:
1. Second referendum. Hopefully DUP will be on board to scupper that by threatening the termination of May's Prime Ministership should that be proposed.
2. Extension of Article 50. The coward's way out. So who can doubt that May will go for that? That's my prediction and I am sure she will be backed by her Cabinet of traitors, taqiyya artists, liars, pimps and vacillators.
Will it be 3 months or 6 months? My guess is 6 months.
Problem for May...does it require Parliamentary approval? If the answer is yes, then she is sunk. But maybe her mate Bercow can help out there?
3. No deal. What the country needs but what May won't give it.
The good thing about the May can-kicking strategy though is that as the days go by, we see more and more of the reality of what no deal means and of course it is nothing like the frightful Project Fear hallucinations being projected on to the public's consciousness. In fact there are lots of upsides like the EU panicking about not getting their hands on our £40 billion (plus - once the May craven deal is done on trade). As the days go by the public will begin to see how no deal delivers a much better negotiating position for the UK than May's "Abject Surrender" approach ("Here are my cards...do you think they are strong? No? Oh dear!...what would you like me to do, then, since obviously you hold all the strong cards? I am very happy to co-operate. Just write down what you want me to do, Monsieur Barnier.") [No exaggeration at all there! That's exactly how it went!!! - sadly David Davis has to take his share of the blame for that.]
Yes, I agree that the No Deal option, which I consider to be the easiest option, will not be on the table during the parliamentary vote or second referendum were there to be one. We will not be allowed to cross the line on 29th March 2019 to genuine independence from the EU without some immovable obstruction being wheeled into place.
MB I'm not sure if May, herself, is possessed of cunning or just the determination, common among low-grade psychopaths, to impose HER will at any cost. Why else did she reject the idea of Canada+, which Barnier & Co. were prepared to offer?
Somebody, I forget who, was suggesting in a recent Telegraph that May will be making a determined effort to sell her Abject Surrender Document to the Cabinet in the new year. I don't see this working, not because any of them have developed a spinal column, far from it, but because May, as was Blair, is now a 'time-limited' PM & the worms, even Mordaunt & Leadsom are allowing ambition to overcome caution.
One of the ways the BBC aids May and the Remain cause is by never really looking closely at the Canada Plus deal or the fact that, as you say, Barnier offered this option. I was one of the mugs who fell for May's line about "Brexit means Brexit" and the planted suggestion that David Davis was in charge of negotiations. Accordingly I assumed that after some argy-bargy we would arrive at Canada Plus. I believe that option is still on the table. All we would need is to extend the Article 50 period for maybe for some concentrated negotiation on that basis. Faced with the alternative of no deal and the loss of maybe £30 billion, the EU will definitely play ball.
I think you are right about time-limited PMs...the rot sets in pretty quickly, because the craven careerists in the Cabinet lose their fear of the PM and begin to fear the rise of rivals or rival cliques. That drives them towards action.
She is definitely a liar. Generally, when discussing politics, I don't think it's a good idea to reach for the L word but May has a lot of form on this. The "pledge", then "target", then "aspiration" to get net migration below 100,000 is a good example of that.
Then she told us the Abject Surrender Deal was it, the only deal available, take it or leave it...it can't be changed. But now she says it can be changed with regard to the issue of the "backstop" (the classic lying diversionary tactic being used there as well).
She's full of lies. One moment she's telling us about the dysfunctional impact of mass immigration. The next she's delivering words full of warm falsehood re a particular community that didn't exist 70 years ago, prior to the era of mass immigration.
May reaches for lies, just like alcoholics reach for the bottle when faced with difficult challenges in life.
I think there's more to it when it comes to the 100000. It's something that I suspect was the source of the conflict between her and Cameron and her and Osborne, who represent a certain kind of modern Conservative, and which target she has refused to give up but hasn't been allowed to achieve either.
Now it looks as though it has gone a step further with her as PM, and the new Home Secretary openly refusing to accept it and openly defying the PM, not because it couldn't be achieved if there was the will to do it but because he is deeply opposed to it, as is most of the modern political class, while she is still deeply committed to it and will no more give it up than he will ever accept or implement it.
Not a nice video but an important one on cultural relativism...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUXteUGhh7w
The BBC seems to have given up on the story about the two Scandinavian women murdered in Morocco, possibly as part of a terrorist plot - despite more arrests since the BBC last reported (six days ago).
Judging from today's Today, Radio 4 seems to have turned itself into the equivalent of that Hutu radio station broadcasting 24/7 hate against a particular ethnic group. Will no one stop this divisive madness? Obviously can't expect Ofcom or the Government to take action. We can only hope for a populist government that will take an axe to the BBC.
Having watched all three episodes of The ABC Murders, it's time reflect upon the paucity of the BBC's commissioning. The Agatha Christie book was written in 1936. It was the 11th out of 34 in the Poirot series. Why then did the BBC see fit to have Chief Inspector Japp die? The interplay between the two is central to most plots. There was no mention of Hastings, and the part of Chrome was built up (in the book he had a bit part - memorable mostly due to his dislike of 'foreigners' which included Poirot).
Towards the end, there was no challenge in the 'who dunnit' sense. The switch of 'who diddit' from the obvious suspect to a less likely culprit was very poorly handled. There was no tension or climax as the truth became obvious.
Finally, as a cinematic experience, the work had none of the grandeur of location or style that we might associate with Poirot. He was made to look seedy as were the other characters - both male and female. John Malkovich was good as Poirot, leaning heavily (in my opinion) on Branagh's Wallander for style.
In the Suchet Poirot, it was always interesting to spot the location for various scenes. In the BBC version, his apartment, and Scotland Yard were following a well-trodden path.
The well trodden path took the viewer to the De la Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, but the interiors appeared Edwardian instead of Modernist. Also, to rewrite Poirot's backstory making him a Man of God stretches the bounds of creative licence.
I much preferred the Channel 5's The Truth of Murder, where pue fiction gave a much more realistic interpretation of Christie's world.
.... 'BBC’s new Poirot story ‘is turned into anti-Brexit propaganda’ by writers who have built on racial tensions that ‘barely feature’ in the novel' ...
It's clea that PC ideology has inculcated every avenue of the BBC from news to drama and the commissioning process.
In this article we see the content of some tweets from pro-Remain writer Sarah Phelps - amongst others:
... In a tweet on Tuesday, she described leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg as ‘a f****** psychopath’. ...
Why should the BBC give a platform for writers such as Sarah Phelps to destroy the fond memory of Agatha Christie's fictional characters to amplify her own political views?
While scrolling past the BBC Parliament Channel last night I came across an awards ceremony by the Political Studies Institute being compered by Jon Snow. Broadcaster of the year was Katya Adler of BBC fame. Politician of the Year was David Lammy. He's never far from the BBC. Another winner was Carole Cadwalladr. Presenters of the awards included such luminaries as Ayesha Hazarika, never off the BBC, and Baroness Warsi - ditto.
28th Nov David Lammy MP awarded Politician of the Year Diana Johnson MP and Dominic Grieve recognised for their contribution to politics. First-ever two people named as Journalist of the Year award: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer, and Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian. Michel Barnier recognised with International Recognition award. David Lammy MP awarded Politician of the Year Diana Johnson MP and Dominic Grieve recognised for their contribution to politics. First-ever two people named as Journalist of the Year award: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer, and Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian. Michel Barnier recognised with International Recognition award. Backbencher of the Year: Diana Johnson MP Broadcaster of the Year: Katya Adler Campaigners of the Year: Alliance for Choice Best Use of Evidence: Tracey Crouch MP Lifetime Achievement: Baroness Jowell https://www.psa.ac.uk/psa/news/psa-awards-2018-award-winners-announced
Dominic Grieve already has the Legion d'Honneur from France, for services to the French people (not kidding - check it out on Wikipedia)...but strangely the BBC never remind us about this rather salient fact. I'm not sure they've ever mentioned it, since it would cast his interventions in a slightly different light.
Any Grievey shouldn't hog all the honours.
Where's the Bullshitter of the Year of the Award.
Feargal Keane could make a comeback but I expect Mark Easton will win that again.
Yes, it looks as if Liam Fox has been designated to be the one that prepares the way for the placement of some immovable obstruction that will thwart the Leave voters as they count down the days to Brexit. Under his breath: 'You mugs didn't believe Brexit means Brexit - did you?'.
R4 Profile : This week : Melania Trump #1 The BBC tried to be subtle in their sneering, not the blatant hit job #2 Nobody tweeted about the prog, which is very strange (of course the BBC didn't promote it unlike how it does with other favoured topics)
The prog : Played the Trump sleazetalk comment tape in full ..and then MT saying 'I don't recognise that as my normal husband' ..They talked about them sleeping in separate beds FFS their youngest child isn't that old They said the rumours about her being an escort weren't true #3 Why wait 2 year after the election ? Michelle Obama was profiled just 3 weeks after he announced as he would stand in 2008 ! #4 Becky Milligan made a big thing of going to Slovenia , and Melania's small town, and played a clip of her walking around and people refusing to talk about Melania .. But when I am in Slovenia I would open by speaking in English "Excuse me I want to ask you about Melania" of course people blocked her. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001sxw
Anyone read the BBC Arts feature 'Your ultimate guide to 2018's biggest books'?
It begins stating "..if you're looking for the perfect present for a special someone, or you just fancy curling up with a good book over the festive period, we've rounded up 40 of this year's biggest titles" - so these are handpicked in other words.
Skip to 'The perfect books for… political animals' and there are 4 listed recommendations;
1. Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming'
2. Isabel Hardman's 'Why We Get the Wrong Politicians'
3. Michael Lewis' 'The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy' which claims to "examine how President Donald Trump's policies are threatening the fabric of the US government."
4. James O'Brien's 'How to Be Right' which claims to be a "guide to dismantling the arguments of those who blame benefits scroungers, the EU, Muslims, feminists and immigrants for the UK's woes."
So something for everyone then! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/SM82NZbRrY6XYY42WzMvrQ/your-ultimate-guide-to-2018s-biggest-books
The 'No Easy Answers' statement as issued by Sajid Javid today is gaining popularity. Sadiq Kahn used the same expression recently about London. Was it about the knife crime crisis? - or the housing crisis? - I don't remember. 'No Easy Answers' - well that's all right then is it?
Charles Dickens was enraged by the Victorian equivalent "It was nobody's fault." Good to see Conservative returning to Victorian values...er, maybe not :)
Of course Slippery Sajid is talking complete balls. There is a very easy answer to the crisis. Do like the Australians did. Take all persons claiming asylum to an asylum processing centre thousands of miles away from your capital on an island that doesn't offer any attractions in itself. Then ensure there is a thorough process weighing up of the asylum claims - that will take years. And also ensure anyone who fails doesn't get on to your mainland.
Oddly enough the Australians found the seaborne asylum seekers dwindled to virtually nothing when that policy was brought in.
We have a number of candidate islands - St Helena, Ascension Island, the Falklands and South Georgia.
The asylum seekers can be treated well, given medical treatment and good food but they can also be assessed for their status. The beauty of the system is that anyone who is really in fear of persecution and death won't mind a few years of processing.
You do have to ensure you have them under military guard because as the Australians found a large proportion of these "refugees" can be very violent.
Another crazy BBC Reality Check: How many people seek asylum in the UK?
It mixes up aslylm and migrant data as if they are one in the same and quotes very small numbers, 26000 for asylum and 1800 for clandestine migrants. It doesn’t mention any of the big immigration numbers because (presumably) it doesn’t fit the narrative.
It’s certainly not reality - does anyone really believe there were only 1800 illegal migrants entering the UK last year. Reality check quotes the data without question or qualification.
More BBC propaganda on one of their favourite subjects to obscure, muddy and obsuficate
Crazy perhaps but there's method in their madness ie lull everyone to sleep.
Does anyone really believe there are only 5 clandestine arrivals in the UK per day from abroad?
Most successful clandestine arrivals will be properly organised by people smugglers. And people smugglers get rich by doing what they say on the can.
You should also watch out for passport switching. Last time I looked, 90,000 passports are "lost" every year.
Interesting that the Reality Tweak folk don't mention the cumulative number of illegal migrants in the UK. Migration Watch UK puts it at about 1.1 million.
"A report co-authored by former Head of Immigration Enforcement David Wood and former Home Office speechwriter Alasdair Palmer stated in mid-2017 that the HO had estimated that each year 150,000-250,000 foreign nationals either enter the UK illegally or overstay permission to be here. "
A funny tweet today to Burley about the use of quotation marks in a headline about a 'major incident' - which was subsequently changed and the quotation marks taken out:
"You’re basically the BBC’s entire Twitter Response team, aren’t you? Happy New Year! #getthemanadrink"
Multi-billion pound BBC must be short staffed tonight. Sky had the story at 12.45pm. Nothing on the BBC Middle East page at 8.45pm. Probably awaiting the "How do we deal with this?" editorial conference, or maybe it appears on the Health page as mental health issue.
"Israel jails Palestinian who stabbed British woman to death"
You know how the BBC are interested in anything to do with Trump, the Obamas, and the Clintons? You know how like they a good mystery especially if people are pointing fingers at Trump as the author of a nefarious plan?
Well why aren't the BBC interested in the "Mysterious Envelopes Affair" at Bush's Funeral?
The BBC sometimes have incredibly odd news story priorities and they still have the capacity to surprise me on what is important to them rather than to its viewers.
Today for some unknown reason (presumably an anti -Brexit smear) the BBC have majored on a small start up ferry company Seaborne being awarded a £14m contract.
It’s been given airtime way beyond its relative importance.
It's a bit unusual even for the BBC to start complaining about a contract going wrong even before the contract has started. I don't think the Channel Tunnel company had ever built a tunnel under the channel before it was formed...but its bid was deemed credible.
I've noticed this story being pushed for all its worth and prize billing being given to someone who looks like a sixth form intern.
Arne: Agreed - I think they just saw the story as another opportunity for a spot of Brexit-bashing.(Assume you're talking about 10 pm news.)
Equally weird was the item on the black population of Argentina. We were told that, 200 years ago, people of African descent constituted 1/3 of the population. Then the focus shifted to a Tango dance-parlour where all of the dancers appeared to be white. The narrator was indignant about this: "Where are the Africans?" - apparently the origins of the Tango were black African. But what, exactly, was their beef? Were they trying to hint that 1/3 of the population had somehow been made to disappear? We were then shown a clip of a man whose, I think, mixed-race brother had died after a beating from the police. But NONE of this was NEWS - it might just have passed muster as a particularly weak edition of 'Panorama!'
Happy New Year to one and all...I'm wondering how the BBC will spin this into an anti-Trump story. "Teetotal Trump Snubs 2019?" Perhaps I should work for the BBC...
Happy New Year everyone! And thanks Craig & Sue for all you do.
MB - Re: Teetotaller-Trump - Sorry but I really can't have kind thoughts about anyone who, unlike me, is not going to have a filthy hangover in the morning!
As we begin a new year, it's important we think of those who continue to suffer, and whose minds are full of foreboding as they survey the year ahead. We should especially reflect upon the plight of those battling so far incurable diseases.
My thoughts turn in particular to full time organiser for the Democrats (and part time BBC reporter), Anthony Zurcher, who is now in the final stages of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
One hopes for recovery, but looking at his Twitter account just now, that seems a dim prospect:
On behalf of ITBBCB? readers, I should like to reciprocate the good wishes to you, Craig and Sue. You always provide an incisive and interesting read, and an outlet for readers' opinions not often shared by our national broadcaster. Well Done. Let's all look forward to much more of the same, and possibly some new bias forms for 2019.
ReplyDeleteSeconded!
DeleteWot they said. Thrice.
ReplyDeleteFourthed. :)
ReplyDeleteFifthed! :-)
DeleteThanks all. And thanks to you to!
DeleteSixthed(?)
DeleteI hope no one's going to commit an eight crime. We're getting close...
DeleteI peered into my crystal ball and saw these BBC website stories appearing in 2019...
ReplyDelete"20,000 teenagers diagnosed with Brexit Anxiety Depression and Sensitivity Syndrome as no deal Brexit approaches. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to blame for BADASS, claims ex Tory MP Sarah Wollaston."
"Trending: Does the BBC Website have too many headlines to tendentious stories that end in a question mark?"
"Praise for BBC from Yvette Cooper and UN Commissioner as it cuts out the middle man and brings in 4,000 refugees directly from France by cruise liner. Macron lauds BBC's contribution to humanitarian effort to clear France of refugees. Lily Allen sings the refugees ashore, to loud applause from the 28 BBC reporters present."
"Tony is now Antoinette...Tony Hall has announced that in future he is to be known as Antoinette Hall. He will be the first TG DG in BBC history."
"Chancellor of the Exchequer Jacob Rees-Mogg announces that all criminal penalties for non payment of licence fee are to be removed. There is a run on the pound as a result, according to Kamal Ahmed."
"Lord Dimbleby of Highborn Manor claims he is not posh because he was a coalman in previous life."
"Jonathan Dimbleby claims he is not posh because he once had an full English breakfast in a transport caf and because he hates Tories."
"Little Lord Dimbleby claims he is not posh because he never really liked playing Eton Fives."
"Queen announces she isn't posh as she only met Lord Dimbleby once."
"Diane Abbott says she is not racist because she is just as hostile to white Americans as she is to white Europeans."
"Alistair Campbell admits he is tattooed with the number of the beast but 'still hopes we can rejoin the EU before 2025'. "
"Fiona Bruce muffs her lines, introducing Polly Toynbee an 'antique piece who has seen some wear and tear in her time - if you look closely it is clear the head is missing some vital infill'. "
My prediction for 2019 is that the BBC's flagship Match of the Day will be an all woman programme. Gary will be replaced by Clare, Kirsty or Gabby. There will be equal time allotted to the women's game, with breathless pitch-side commentaries from all female commentators. Male pundits such as Jermaine will be replaced - found wanting by the new all female production team - for having insufficient detailed knowledge of the women's game.
DeleteEnjoy it while you can, male football will probably be illegal from 2020, under the Suppression of Male Bonding Act.
DeleteNo recent BBC comedy has made me laugh as much as you did there, MB!
DeleteThat’s not really a compliment is it!
DeleteYou're right Clockwork...that's like saying "That is a far more penetrating analysis of this important social issue than I have ever seen on The One Show". :)
DeleteMB - Just seen your 13.44 comments - brilliant!
DeleteJust to wish Craig, Sue and all the great commentators here a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - for me, ITBB is a good-natured haven of sanity in our increasingly bonkers, belligerent and biased media landscape. A heartfelt thanks for all your work this year.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSandi Toksvig who relies on BBC patronage (and C4) for her income,said today:
ReplyDelete‘Too often, there are complaints in the British papers about the BBC. It’s too left wing, too right wing, too pro-Brexit, too anti and so on. It’s only when you go abroad and try to find out what is going on in the world that everyone falls with gratitude before the BBC News. I believe it is the most balanced and fair reporting available anywhere and worth every penny of the licence fee. There are lots of things I like on TV, but nothing else I regard as absolutely essential.’
Pass the sick bucket...while I pay my licence fee.
DeleteSo she's saying DR, the state-funded Danish analogue of the BBC, is biased? Bet she never says that when back home in Denmark.
She can't claim to be unbiased herself as she is a founder and active member of the Women's Equality Party - a left wing, extreme feminist party. If she's feeling the BBC "gets it about right" that tell us something.
The party's manifesto is full of gender bias including the claim that although girls do better than boys in exams, girls should still be give MORE not less educational help in relation to boys!
"It’s only when you go abroad and try to find out what is going on in the world that everyone falls with gratitude before the BBC News." ... Can somebody remind me why I have to pay for news broadcasts abroad?
DeleteThis is why I have never trusted Sajid Javid and will never trust him:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/sajidjavid/status/1075441979557842944
This guy is plugged into the Globalist Grid.
Why does he feel the need to express support for a Hungarian-American who is interfering in our country's politics by unashamedly funding the so called "People's Vote" rigged rerun of our democratic Referendum?
Javid is most definitely not fit to be a Prime Minister of a proud nation, the UK.
Mark Kermode's survey of the films of the year was riddled with the usual SJW asides but one statement was breath-taking. He tried to slip through the idea that "Solo" had been successful at the box-office!
ReplyDeleteYes, the Solo which has been so successful that it caused the instant cancellation of all pending Star Wars spin-offs and generated the widespread opinion that Disney has one last shot at getting a Star Wars film right if it is to save the franchise at all.
It's one thing to hawk around nonsense opinions that might have some justification, however far-fetched. It's another to try to sell blatant untruths unjustifiable on any level.
A dangerous interview between one Far Right extremist and another...according to the BBC. What do you expect to find? Irrational invective? Hate speech? Fake News?
ReplyDeleteOr civilised, reasoned debate of the type you'll never hear on Today, Question Time or Newsnight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh-xT6951kc
The BBC never sleeps...the propaganda must be pumped out whether it's Christmas or Eid or whatever...
ReplyDeleteThe headline on the main page for this is "The Doctor Struck Off for Honest Mistakes".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_struck_off_doctor
A lot of this is just regurgitated stuff but nowhere do they make clear that, as far as I can see, the conviction for manslaughter stands.
The point about homicide crimes is that they can easily result from "mistakes" - honest ones included. Perhaps you shouldn't have had that extra double whisky...then you might not have got in that fight where you killed someone...the decision to have the extra double was an honest mistake, not part of your normal pattern of behaviour but still, it does not excuse the crime.
Perhaps you shouldn't have arranged the mirrors in your shop so that it confused people and led to them falling down stairs to their death...an honest mistake, agreed, but still one that could result in a manslaughter conviction.
But this is the BBC. It's Fake News not facts, it's all about creating a mood not reporting facts or explaining the law.
And we all know why in this particular instance.
Of course, the BBC itself has been known to decide #honestmistake absolves all professional sins.
DeleteAgain noticeable by how it applies solely to them and those they support, but not those they do not like.
The BBC is unique that way.
Not saying I agree with everything he says, but Mike Lane does a good job of taking apart Katie Razzall's report on Newsnight:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs52IrsI6ng&t=674s
I didn't know Katie Razzall was Lib Dem Lord Razzall's daughter...
MB can you see that vid is set to play at 674 seconds in ?
DeleteFrom the beginning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs52IrsI6ng
I didn't. I wasn't aware of that clause in that public order Act but I guess the judges interpret that as only applying to a public order context. Lord Pearson (though he is the only Parliamentarian deserving of any respect among the 1200 plus members currently around) doesn't seem to appreciate there are discrete areas of law. You might not be threatening public order, but you might be offending against that Blairite legal confection known as "equality". So, it's useful to know about but it makes not a jot of difference to how the law is being applied - ie to stifle free speech, undermine democracy and frustrate the popular will.
Deleteoops I gave link to the Lord Pearson interview
DeleteI mean to give the link to the start of the Mike Lane video https://youtu.be/Vs52IrsI6ng
The most disgusting thing about the BBC Newsnight piece was the fact that they blurred out any reference to Chelsey Wright.
ReplyDeleteHaving once again not covered the story at the time, this was really a slap in the face as it evaded context - the reason that the march was held in the first place is that the BBC doesn't do its job.
For those not aware of the Chelsey Wright story, here are some articles and vids which track it.
I'm putting the final Sunderland Echo article forward for the 2019 Gabriel Gatehouse Award For Weaslery.
Seeds of doubt sprinkled liberally to lead the reader to a conclusion not written, yet somehow a bit fishy.
Brave Sunderland woman speaks out following kidnap, gang rape and brutal attack :
https://policehour.co.uk/2017/01/brave-sunderland-woman-speaks-out-following-kidnap-gang-rape-and-brutal-attack/
The Chelsey Wright interview :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdGGwhFr_TU
What our lawyer says about Justice for Chelsey:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-v_nQgIDk
Police urge alleged Sunderland rape victim to review evidence :
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/our-region/sunderland/police-urge-alleged-sunderland-rape-victim-to-review-evidence-1-8545072
Sarah Phelps, writer of the ABC Murders on BBC One says of the screenplay that she wanted modernise Agatha Christie and draw out the murderers hatred of foreigners.
ReplyDeleteI looked at her twitter feed - full of anti-Brexit, anti -Trump tweets and retweeted James O’Brien bile.
Aha - I smell a rat - like so much of the BBCs current output, it’s your typical left liberal PC propaganda masquerading as drama.
It's drama without the drama. Just another sermon from the pulpit. About as appetising as a dried up sponge cake made with egg powder and artificial cream.
DeleteArne - from twitter it would seem Ms. Phelps’ revisionism lasted about five seconds for most before self-destruction.
DeleteSays The Telegraph
DeleteA work that, over the past three evenings, been brutally clubbed over the head by the BBC, then stabbed in the back and poisoned for good measure.
Inevitably, as with almost everything the BBC does these days, we were fed Left-liberal propaganda
Somewhere I read that she got a media "Race" award once upon a time for no doubt something worthy she wrote or produced. I can't remember what. These were awards that typically went to black/Asian people in the media.
DeleteSay what you like about Mark Easton, he does lead from the front (like some mad bloodthirsty officer from the Great War, in love with slaughter).
ReplyDeleteWe're not yet in 2019 and here he is on the BBC TV News leading yet another futile anti-Brexit charge, this time in alliance with Cressida "Shoot!Shoot! Shoot!" Dick.
It's all right for him, but all over the muddy field of media, the BBC's credibility is lying in shreds.
The BBC did not mention one positive security gain from a (real, not May's) Leave option. The most obvious is that criminal gangs from Eastern Europe won't be able to simply walk into our country and set up shop with their knocking shops, drug smuggling, people smuggling and all the rest.
The next gain is that IS and Al Queda operatives won't be so easily able to make their way into our country from terrorist hot spots like Paris and Brussels. Another security gain is that we won't be part of the EU's confrontational policies towards Putin's Russia which have already led to so much grief.
A final security gain is that we will not be part of the EU's pathetic attempt to match the USA's reach and power, which is a destabilising factor in the (relatively) free world.
However, according to Fake News BBC, there are only security gains to be had through remaining in the EU.
MB - Equally, Ms. Dick’s latest foray into predicting what ‘could’ happen if she stayed at current levels of contingency competence have likewise not been greeted by MSM audiences perhaps as credulously as they had all hoped.
ReplyDeleteMs Dick may see herself as the Grand Vizier of the Khanate but most of us see her as a "low IQ person", to borrow a Trumpian phrase.
DeleteHas she ever said anything remotely perceptive or insightful? Not to my knowledge.
She is just a parrot on a bar squawking phrases learnt in exchange for seeds and berries.
Yup! She's just bright enough to realise that she ticks a couple of PC (not Police Constable) boxes which go down well with the BBC/Guardian etc left-wing media.
DeleteIt's odd that Ms Dick sees the outcome of the UK democratic process as creating an unsafe environment, whereas the denial of democracy by slight of hand would be preferred (from a policing point of view). Who are the police there to serve - the public or duplicitous politicians?
DeleteI know we should still be ho-ho-ho-ing... it would be nice to continue in a festive mood. But the sad truth is that May is counting on that. Never underestimate her low cunning, as opposed to her energetic pursuit of high principle.
ReplyDeleteShe is clearly counting on all that turkey, all those mince pies and all that good will taking their toll and weakening the will of those who oppose her "Abject Surrender Deal".
But nothing has changed.
The ERG just have to grit their teeth and oppose her Abject Surrender. What else can they do? No sane and patriotic person could ever approve it.
If 50 or 60 patriotic ERG members continue in their obduracy that then leads to either:
1. Second referendum. Hopefully DUP will be on board to scupper that by threatening the termination of May's Prime Ministership should that be proposed.
2. Extension of Article 50. The coward's way out. So who can doubt that May will go for that? That's my prediction and I am sure she will be backed by her Cabinet of traitors, taqiyya artists, liars, pimps and vacillators.
Will it be 3 months or 6 months? My guess is 6 months.
Problem for May...does it require Parliamentary approval? If the answer is yes, then she is sunk. But maybe her mate Bercow can help out there?
3. No deal. What the country needs but what May won't give it.
The good thing about the May can-kicking strategy though is that as the days go by, we see more and more of the reality of what no deal means and of course it is nothing like the frightful Project Fear hallucinations being projected on to the public's consciousness. In fact there are lots of upsides like the EU panicking about not getting their hands on our £40 billion (plus - once the May craven deal is done on trade). As the days go by the public will begin to see how no deal delivers a much better negotiating position for the UK than May's "Abject Surrender" approach ("Here are my cards...do you think they are strong? No? Oh dear!...what would you like me to do, then, since obviously you hold all the strong cards? I am very happy to co-operate. Just write down what you want me to do, Monsieur Barnier.") [No exaggeration at all there! That's exactly how it went!!! - sadly David Davis has to take his share of the blame for that.]
Yes, I agree that the No Deal option, which I consider to be the easiest option, will not be on the table during the parliamentary vote or second referendum were there to be one. We will not be allowed to cross the line on 29th March 2019 to genuine independence from the EU without some immovable obstruction being wheeled into place.
DeleteMB I'm not sure if May, herself, is possessed of cunning or just the determination, common among low-grade psychopaths, to impose HER will at any cost. Why else did she reject the idea of Canada+, which Barnier & Co. were prepared to offer?
DeleteSomebody, I forget who, was suggesting in a recent Telegraph that May will be making a determined effort to sell her Abject Surrender Document to the Cabinet in the new year. I don't see this working, not because any of them have developed a spinal column, far from it, but because May, as was Blair, is now a 'time-limited' PM & the worms, even Mordaunt & Leadsom are allowing ambition to overcome caution.
One of the ways the BBC aids May and the Remain cause is by never really looking closely at the Canada Plus deal or the fact that, as you say, Barnier offered this option. I was one of the mugs who fell for May's line about "Brexit means Brexit" and the planted suggestion that David Davis was in charge of negotiations. Accordingly I assumed that after some argy-bargy we would arrive at Canada Plus. I believe that option is still on the table. All we would need is to extend the Article 50 period for maybe for some concentrated negotiation on that basis. Faced with the alternative of no deal and the loss of maybe £30 billion, the EU will definitely play ball.
DeleteI think you are right about time-limited PMs...the rot sets in pretty quickly, because the craven careerists in the Cabinet lose their fear of the PM and begin to fear the rise of rivals or rival cliques. That drives them towards action.
'Brexit means Brexit' - I fell for it too!
DeleteShe lied. All the time she was negotiating Brexit means Brino
DeleteShe is definitely a liar. Generally, when discussing politics, I don't think it's a good idea to reach for the L word but May has a lot of form on this. The "pledge", then "target", then "aspiration" to get net migration below 100,000 is a good example of that.
DeleteThen she told us the Abject Surrender Deal was it, the only deal available, take it or leave it...it can't be changed. But now she says it can be changed with regard to the issue of the "backstop" (the classic lying diversionary tactic being used there as well).
She's full of lies. One moment she's telling us about the dysfunctional impact of mass immigration. The next she's delivering words full of warm falsehood re a particular community that didn't exist 70 years ago, prior to the era of mass immigration.
May reaches for lies, just like alcoholics reach for the bottle when faced with difficult challenges in life.
I think there's more to it when it comes to the 100000. It's something that I suspect was the source of the conflict between her and Cameron and her and Osborne, who represent a certain kind of modern Conservative, and which target she has refused to give up but hasn't been allowed to achieve either.
DeleteNow it looks as though it has gone a step further with her as PM, and the new Home Secretary openly refusing to accept it and openly defying the PM, not because it couldn't be achieved if there was the will to do it but because he is deeply opposed to it, as is most of the modern political class, while she is still deeply committed to it and will no more give it up than he will ever accept or implement it.
Not a nice video but an important one on cultural relativism...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUXteUGhh7w
The BBC seems to have given up on the story about the two Scandinavian women murdered in Morocco, possibly as part of a terrorist plot - despite more arrests since the BBC last reported (six days ago).
Judging from today's Today, Radio 4 seems to have turned itself into the equivalent of that Hutu radio station broadcasting 24/7 hate against a particular ethnic group. Will no one stop this divisive madness? Obviously can't expect Ofcom or the Government to take action. We can only hope for a populist government that will take an axe to the BBC.
ReplyDeleteHaving watched all three episodes of The ABC Murders, it's time reflect upon the paucity of the BBC's commissioning. The Agatha Christie book was written in 1936. It was the 11th out of 34 in the Poirot series. Why then did the BBC see fit to have Chief Inspector Japp die? The interplay between the two is central to most plots. There was no mention of Hastings, and the part of Chrome was built up (in the book he had a bit part - memorable mostly due to his dislike of 'foreigners' which included Poirot).
ReplyDeleteTowards the end, there was no challenge in the 'who dunnit' sense. The switch of 'who diddit' from the obvious suspect to a less likely culprit was very poorly handled. There was no tension or climax as the truth became obvious.
Finally, as a cinematic experience, the work had none of the grandeur of location or style that we might associate with Poirot. He was made to look seedy as were the other characters - both male and female. John Malkovich was good as Poirot, leaning heavily (in my opinion) on Branagh's Wallander for style.
In the Suchet Poirot, it was always interesting to spot the location for various scenes. In the BBC version, his apartment, and Scotland Yard were following a well-trodden path.
The well trodden path took the viewer to the De la Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, but the interiors appeared Edwardian instead of Modernist. Also, to rewrite Poirot's backstory making him a Man of God stretches the bounds of creative licence.
DeleteI much preferred the Channel 5's The Truth of Murder, where pue fiction gave a much more realistic interpretation of Christie's world.
See: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6523851/BBCs-new-Poirot-story-turned-anti-Brexit-propaganda-writers.html
Delete.... 'BBC’s new Poirot story ‘is turned into anti-Brexit propaganda’ by writers who have built on racial tensions that ‘barely feature’ in the novel' ...
It's clea that PC ideology has inculcated every avenue of the BBC from news to drama and the commissioning process.
In this article we see the content of some tweets from pro-Remain writer Sarah Phelps - amongst others:
... In a tweet on Tuesday, she described leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg as ‘a f****** psychopath’. ...
Why should the BBC give a platform for writers such as Sarah Phelps to destroy the fond memory of Agatha Christie's fictional characters to amplify her own political views?
While scrolling past the BBC Parliament Channel last night I came across an awards ceremony by the Political Studies Institute being compered by Jon Snow. Broadcaster of the year was Katya Adler of BBC fame. Politician of the Year was David Lammy. He's never far from the BBC. Another winner was Carole Cadwalladr. Presenters of the awards included such luminaries as Ayesha Hazarika, never off the BBC, and Baroness Warsi - ditto.
ReplyDeleteOr it might have been called Political Studies Association.
DeleteI think you misheard. It's the PC Toadies Association.
Delete28th Nov
DeleteDavid Lammy MP awarded Politician of the Year
Diana Johnson MP and Dominic Grieve recognised for their contribution to politics.
First-ever two people named as Journalist of the Year award: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer, and Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian.
Michel Barnier recognised with International Recognition award.
David Lammy MP awarded Politician of the Year
Diana Johnson MP and Dominic Grieve recognised for their contribution to politics.
First-ever two people named as Journalist of the Year award: Carole Cadwalladr, The Observer, and Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian.
Michel Barnier recognised with International Recognition award.
Backbencher of the Year: Diana Johnson MP
Broadcaster of the Year: Katya Adler
Campaigners of the Year: Alliance for Choice
Best Use of Evidence: Tracey Crouch MP
Lifetime Achievement: Baroness Jowell
https://www.psa.ac.uk/psa/news/psa-awards-2018-award-winners-announced
You are joking right?
DeleteDominic Grieve already has the Legion d'Honneur from France, for services to the French people (not kidding - check it out on Wikipedia)...but strangely the BBC never remind us about this rather salient fact. I'm not sure they've ever mentioned it, since it would cast his interventions in a slightly different light.
Any Grievey shouldn't hog all the honours.
Where's the Bullshitter of the Year of the Award.
Feargal Keane could make a comeback but I expect Mark Easton will win that again.
Yes thank you for the correction, MB. I must have misread the title while being distracted by Jon Snow's tie.
DeleteIsn't it pathetic to see Liam Fox touting the Abject Surrender Deal.
ReplyDeleteBut from his point of view, I guess he's looking forward to no longer being the butt of jokes on HIGNFY, The Now Show and The Mash Report.
Yes, it looks as if Liam Fox has been designated to be the one that prepares the way for the placement of some immovable obstruction that will thwart the Leave voters as they count down the days to Brexit. Under his breath: 'You mugs didn't believe Brexit means Brexit - did you?'.
DeleteNowadays I just assume Fox is being blackmailed
DeleteR4 Profile : This week : Melania Trump
ReplyDelete#1 The BBC tried to be subtle in their sneering, not the blatant hit job
#2 Nobody tweeted about the prog, which is very strange
(of course the BBC didn't promote it unlike how it does with other favoured topics)
The prog : Played the Trump sleazetalk comment tape in full ..and then MT saying 'I don't recognise that as my normal husband'
..They talked about them sleeping in separate beds
FFS their youngest child isn't that old
They said the rumours about her being an escort weren't true
#3 Why wait 2 year after the election ?
Michelle Obama was profiled just 3 weeks after he announced as he would stand in 2008 !
#4 Becky Milligan made a big thing of going to Slovenia , and Melania's small town, and played a clip of her walking around and people refusing to talk about Melania
.. But when I am in Slovenia I would open by speaking in English "Excuse me I want to ask you about Melania" of course people blocked her.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001sxw
typo .."I wouldn't open by "
DeleteAnyone read the BBC Arts feature 'Your ultimate guide to 2018's biggest books'?
ReplyDeleteIt begins stating "..if you're looking for the perfect present for a special someone, or you just fancy curling up with a good book over the festive period, we've rounded up 40 of this year's biggest titles" - so these are handpicked in other words.
Skip to 'The perfect books for… political animals' and there are 4 listed recommendations;
1. Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming'
2. Isabel Hardman's 'Why We Get the Wrong Politicians'
3. Michael Lewis' 'The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy' which claims to "examine how President Donald Trump's policies are threatening the fabric of the US government."
4. James O'Brien's 'How to Be Right' which claims to be a "guide to dismantling the arguments of those who blame benefits scroungers, the EU, Muslims, feminists and immigrants for the UK's woes."
So something for everyone then!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/SM82NZbRrY6XYY42WzMvrQ/your-ultimate-guide-to-2018s-biggest-books
Good grief!
DeleteThe 'No Easy Answers' statement as issued by Sajid Javid today is gaining popularity. Sadiq Kahn used the same expression recently about London. Was it about the knife crime crisis? - or the housing crisis? - I don't remember. 'No Easy Answers' - well that's all right then is it?
ReplyDeleteCharles Dickens was enraged by the Victorian equivalent "It was nobody's fault." Good to see Conservative returning to Victorian values...er, maybe not :)
DeleteOf course Slippery Sajid is talking complete balls. There is a very easy answer to the crisis. Do like the Australians did. Take all persons claiming asylum to an asylum processing centre thousands of miles away from your capital on an island that doesn't offer any attractions in itself. Then ensure there is a thorough process weighing up of the asylum claims - that will take years. And also ensure anyone who fails doesn't get on to your mainland.
Oddly enough the Australians found the seaborne asylum seekers dwindled to virtually nothing when that policy was brought in.
We have a number of candidate islands - St Helena, Ascension Island, the Falklands and South Georgia.
The asylum seekers can be treated well, given medical treatment and good food but they can also be assessed for their status. The beauty of the system is that anyone who is really in fear of persecution and death won't mind a few years of processing.
You do have to ensure you have them under military guard because as the Australians found a large proportion of these "refugees" can be very violent.
Another crazy BBC Reality Check: How many people seek asylum in the UK?
ReplyDeleteIt mixes up aslylm and migrant data as if they are one in the same and quotes very small numbers, 26000 for asylum and 1800 for clandestine migrants. It doesn’t mention any of the big immigration numbers because (presumably) it doesn’t fit the narrative.
It’s certainly not reality - does anyone really believe there were only 1800 illegal migrants entering the UK last year. Reality check quotes the data without question or qualification.
More BBC propaganda on one of their favourite subjects to obscure, muddy and obsuficate
More Fake News!
DeleteCrazy perhaps but there's method in their madness ie lull everyone to sleep.
Does anyone really believe there are only 5 clandestine arrivals in the UK per day from abroad?
Most successful clandestine arrivals will be properly organised by people smugglers. And people smugglers get rich by doing what they say on the can.
You should also watch out for passport switching. Last time I looked, 90,000 passports are "lost" every year.
Interesting that the Reality Tweak folk don't mention the cumulative number of illegal migrants in the UK. Migration Watch UK puts it at about 1.1 million.
"A report co-authored by former Head of Immigration Enforcement David Wood and former Home Office speechwriter Alasdair Palmer stated in mid-2017 that the HO had estimated that each year 150,000-250,000 foreign nationals either enter the UK illegally or overstay permission to be here. "
https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefing-paper/455
A funny tweet today to Burley about the use of quotation marks in a headline about a 'major incident' - which was subsequently changed and the quotation marks taken out:
ReplyDelete"You’re basically the BBC’s entire Twitter Response team, aren’t you? Happy New Year! #getthemanadrink"
https://twitter.com/RobBurl/status/1079676803856457728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1079676803856457728&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbiasedbbc.org%2Fblog%2F2018%2F12%2F30%2Fstart-the-year-open-thread-31-december-2018%2F
Multi-billion pound BBC must be short staffed tonight. Sky had the story at 12.45pm. Nothing on the BBC Middle East page at 8.45pm. Probably awaiting the "How do we deal with this?" editorial conference, or maybe it appears on the Health page as mental health issue.
ReplyDelete"Israel jails Palestinian who stabbed British woman to death"
https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1079720127967518720
It’s one for them to bury, I fear. Outrageous but par for the course.
DeleteYou know how the BBC are interested in anything to do with Trump, the Obamas, and the Clintons? You know how like they a good mystery especially if people are pointing fingers at Trump as the author of a nefarious plan?
ReplyDeleteWell why aren't the BBC interested in the "Mysterious Envelopes Affair" at Bush's Funeral?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uVADx6STss&list=PLTTXiI-U-wSKzh70aOnCFN5UcBIt86WC3&index=7
Could it be because they would have to show the looks of fear, bewilderment and disgust on the facts of their favourite elite leaders?
The BBC sometimes have incredibly odd news story priorities and they still have the capacity to surprise me on what is important to them rather than to its viewers.
ReplyDeleteToday for some unknown reason (presumably an anti -Brexit smear) the BBC have majored on a small start up ferry company Seaborne being awarded a £14m contract.
It’s been given airtime way beyond its relative importance.
It's a bit unusual even for the BBC to start complaining about a contract going wrong even before the contract has started. I don't think the Channel Tunnel company had ever built a tunnel under the channel before it was formed...but its bid was deemed credible.
DeleteI've noticed this story being pushed for all its worth and prize billing being given to someone who looks like a sixth form intern.
Arne: Agreed - I think they just saw the story as another opportunity for a spot of Brexit-bashing.(Assume you're talking about 10 pm news.)
DeleteEqually weird was the item on the black population of Argentina. We were told that, 200 years ago, people of African descent constituted 1/3 of the population. Then the focus shifted to a Tango dance-parlour where all of the dancers appeared to be white. The narrator was indignant about this: "Where are the Africans?" - apparently the origins of the Tango were black African. But what, exactly, was their beef? Were they trying to hint that 1/3 of the population had somehow been made to disappear? We were then shown a clip of a man whose, I think, mixed-race brother had died after a beating from the police. But NONE of this was NEWS - it might just have passed muster as a particularly weak edition of 'Panorama!'
Happy New Year to one and all...I'm wondering how the BBC will spin this into an anti-Trump story. "Teetotal Trump Snubs 2019?" Perhaps I should work for the BBC...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year everyone! And thanks Craig & Sue for all you do.
DeleteMB - Re: Teetotaller-Trump - Sorry but I really can't have kind thoughts about anyone who, unlike me, is not going to have a filthy hangover in the morning!
As we begin a new year, it's important we think of those who continue to suffer, and whose minds are full of foreboding as they survey the year ahead. We should especially reflect upon the plight of those battling so far incurable diseases.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts turn in particular to full time organiser for the Democrats (and part time BBC reporter), Anthony Zurcher, who is now in the final stages of Trump Derangement Syndrome.
One hopes for recovery, but looking at his Twitter account just now, that seems a dim prospect:
https://twitter.com/awzurcher?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor