Former BBC man tilts at the Labour crown

So, we learn tonight that the second Labour MP to enter the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader is none other than Clive Lewis.

And who might he be (I hear passers-by asking)?

Well, seasoned BBC watchers will know that Clive (an early Corbynista) used to be a BBC reporter - indeed the main political reporter on the BBC's Politics Show East.

And, if they read our blog, they'll also know that Corbynista Clive once well-and-truly dropped the BBC in it by boasting the following to a Momentum mob:

I was able to use bias in my reports by giving less time to one than the other. I reported on both but the angle and words and the language I used - I know the pictures I used - I was able to project my own particular political positions on things in a very subtle way.

I, for one, completely believed him about that. 

The BBC News website has, so far, treated Corbynista Clive kindly, with links to his Guardian article and direct quotes, but (so far) no criticism, and (so far) no mention whatsoever that he ever worked for the BBC.

In contrast, the Sky News website, while reporting the same story, has lobbed in a good deal more:

In 2017, Mr Lewis faced criticism from politicians on both sides of the chamber after a clip of him emerged telling a man to "get on your knees b****" during a comic quiz held at a fringe event during Labour's Brighton conference. 

He apologised "unreservedly" and said the language he used was "offensive and unacceptable". 

He was also accused of pinching a female Labour member's bottom at the Momentum The World Transformed festival - organised by the pro-Corbyn group - but he was later cleared of sexual harassment after an internal investigation.

All of which is only adding to my perennial feeling that we often only get half the story (at best) from the BBC, when it suits them.

Pearls before swine?

To coincide with the launch of memoirs next year, the BBC is working with David Cameron on a multi-part documentary about his premiership. 

It will be produced by veteran documentary maker Denys Blakeway. 

Matthew Moore, the Times reporter who broke the news, has been taken aback by some of the reaction: 

• Lots of people seem angry about this. But aren’t heavyweight political documentaries exactly the sort of thing the BBC should be making? Blakeway’s previous docs with Thatcher, Blair etc featured critical voices, as (presumably) will this one.
• It’s terrifying that a sizeable chunk of of the population seems to think the national broadcaster shouldn’t run in-depth interviews with a man who ran the country for six years, because he made decisions they disagree with. Do people not want to learn stuff?

The sort of thing he means (much more mildly put than a lot of it) is this from ex-BBC-reporter-turned-far-left-Labour MP Clive Lewis:

"The sooner the BBC is democratised the better" isn't remotely sinister, is it? And it comes from a man who has previously admitted, or rather boasted about, presenting deliberately biased reports while working at BBC Look East:

“I was able to use bias in my reports by giving less time to one than the other. 

“I reported on both but the angle and words and the language I used — I know the pictures I used — I was able to project my own particular political positions on things in a very subtle way.” 

I don't think his 'democratisation' process will have political fairness as its top priority. 

"I was able to use bias in my reports"

Just bumping this 'scoop' from this morning back up the blog, as it poses very serious questions for the BBC...

According to The Sun:

A LABOUR frontbencher has admitted broadcasting biased news reports while working as a BBC journalist. 

And last night the revelation by shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis plunged the corporation into a damaging storm. 

Mr Lewis told left-wing Momentum members: “I was able to use bias in my reports by giving less time to one than the other. 

“I reported on both but the angle and words and the language I used — I know the pictures I used — I was able to project my own particular political positions on things in a very subtle way.” 

Mr Lewis made his damning comments last September at a Momentum rally in Brighton.

They were discovered in a secret recording and will be a huge embarrassment to BBC bosses. 

Tory MP Damian Collins said: “He’s boasting about undermining one of our great institutions.” 

A spokesman for Mr Lewis declined to comment.

And the BBC's response?: 

A BBC spokesperson said: “Our editorial guidelines ensure impartiality.”

Clive Lewis was a senior BBC broadcast journalist and the main reporter on the BBC's Politics Show East.

Update: (intervention by Sue to protect Craig's modesty)
You saw it here first! (note to Biased BBC and Notasheep)