Tuesday 17 December 2019

The Curious Case of Emily Mailtis, Emma Dent Coat and the question, "And that comes down to immigration, I suppose?"


I was flabbergasted watching Newsnight last night. In fact, my flabber has never been so gasted while watching Newsnight.

Emily was discussing post-election Labour matter with a trio of Labour types, including Emma Dent Coad - a Labour MP until she was rejected by the voters of Kensington in the general election.

Emma chipped in a parting comment, and Emily replied:
Emma Dent Coad: Something about the construction industry. We cannot deliver the infrastructure we need because the construction industry is almost on its knees. We don't have the skills, we don't have the power and we don't have the investment.
Emily Maitlis: And that comes down to immigration, I suppose?
Emma Dent Coad: Partly down to that. Yes.
Emily Maitlis: Or down to...?
Emma Dent Coad: And Brexit. It's going to be hideous. The construction industry is bracing itself for recession.
Emily Maitlis: Thank you all very much.
That "And that comes down to immigration, I suppose?" from Emily was (a) so unexpected and (b) so fleeting that I don't know whether to praise her for breaking one of the BBC's biggest taboos by linking the housing crisis to mass immigration or to suspect her of 'trolling' BBC critics who say the BBC never makes that connection by making the connection in a quiet voice and then not pursuing it - akin to the BBC 'burying' unwelcome news stories 'in Berkshire' (the local news section of the BBC News website, for any passing newbies) - i.e. reporting it while not reporting it.

What do you make of it?

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Update/Clarification/Correction/Apology: That will teach me to post after a work's afternoon Christmas do (with lots of turkey and wine). Charlie, in the comments below, has brought me to my senses:
I think you may have read that wrong Craig. 
My take on that exchange was that Emily was using that well worn BBC trope that Brexit has put off immigrants from coming so there isn’t enough manual labour to fill the construction jobs, just like Easton says about manual farming jobs like picking.
Of course that's what Emily meant by that comment of hers. 

She wasn't breaking the BBC's taboo on linking the housing crisis to the sudden influx of millions upon millions of recent immigrants at all. 

In fact, she was doing the exact opposite - pushing the BBC line that the UK's construction industry will be destroyed by Brexit, and Brexit-related curbs on immigration. 

It was a pro-immigration, anti-Brexit point she was making.

Mea culpa. I seriously let my poor flabber down by even thinking that she'd make an anti-immigration point, even in passing. 

13 comments:

  1. I think you may have read that wrong Craig.

    My take on that exchange was that Emily was using that well worn BBC trope that Brexit has put off immigrants from coming so there isn’t enough manual labour to fill the construction jobs, just like Easton says about manual farming jobs like picking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't see it, but if the transcription is accurate it's most definitely your take !

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    2. Charlie, thanks for pointing that out. I really should have known better. A BBC type like Emily would never link millions upon millions of recent new immigrants to the present housing crisis.

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  2. I didn't see it, but reading it on the page Charlie's interpretation seems more likely.

    In other words, a classic BBC position: "Immigration is good! More immigration please!"

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  3. Just to add - the biggest risk to the big construction companies is the lack of investment in infrastructure brought on by the distraction of blocking brexit in Parliament and the uncertainty that that has caused.

    Hopefully a new majority will see a round of new infrastructure spending, and strangely if quantitative easing is required because of Brexit that worked out pretty well for us in 2009/10 with a lot of money being pumped in.

    Skills is a problem yes, but no different to any other industry at the mo, and it works out pretty well for the individuals actually involved in the industry with higher pay etc etc.

    A Construction Professional.



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  4. If I may say so, I suspect that even your update is a little fuddled. Surely you mean that she was making a pro-immigration anti-Brexit point.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're not wrong. I think I'll give up tonight.

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    2. (after correcting the post)

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    3. Don't be too hard on yourself. It's not as if you work for the Beeb, is it. Enjoy your evening.

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  5. Anonymous of 20:39 here. I was trying to be gentle! Craig and Sue do a wonderful job.

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    Replies
    1. You were gentle. I'm still off to bed though! :)

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  6. Glad all that has been clarified!

    What I find puzzling is that Emily still looks immensely pleased with herself on Newsnight post-election! :)

    That said, I did feel a shaft of light piercing through Newsnight's PC-approved curtains tonight when they actually addressed some questions about what patriotism is and how the Left view patriotism.

    I've never thought the Newsnight crew were thick...it's just a question of what they are prepared to consider. Pre-election, I really don't think they would consider the issue of patriotism.

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  7. What is Newsnight
    ah it's a prog that I haven't even considered watching since at least 5 years ago
    Made by snowflakes ..FOR snowflakes
    It's all Snowflake Defence League stuff.

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