The BBC War on Labour

Wildrose Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 03:19:12 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Am I the only Labour supporter who wants to throw a brick at the TV during BBC politics and news programmes?

This morning Andrew Marr in his Sunday morning politics show referred to the Prime Minister's `So-called' War on Terror.  There was nobody to rebut him.

Yet, just a few minutes later, when interviewing Hillary Benn he referred to it as The War on Terror.  No 'so-called' there then.

Once you see this you see it on every news item.  

I am no psychologist but I bet any psychologist worth his or her salt would describe this as leading the audience.

Is this all part of the BBC's `War on Labour?'






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The BBC War on Labour | 29 comments (29 topical)

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#1)

by Patrick H on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 04:34:43 PM GMT

The BBC is the pride of Britain. There is no "war on Labour" conducted by the one organisation above all others that makes me proud of my country.


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Re: The BBC War on Labour (#2)

by davidfloyd on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 06:44:27 PM GMT

"Am I the only Labour supporter who wants to throw a brick at the TV during BBC politics and news programmes?

This morning Andrew Marr in his Sunday morning politics show referred to the Prime Minister's `So-called' War on Terror."

There quite a few things I dislike about the BBC but this isn't one of them.

Whether or not you support the policies Bush and Blair choose to label 'War on Terror' (I support quite a few of them) there is certainly not a consensus on the label 'War' - an existing word with a broadly agreed meaning quite different to many of the actions undertaken as part of the  'so-called War on Terror'.

The decision to call these policies a 'War' is a political position not supported by any mainstream political party in Britain other than Labour and therefore in order to maintain political independence, the BBC is well advised to put itself outside this political position.

 


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#3)

by MM on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 08:33:10 PM GMT

To be honest whatever political party one supports I'm sure you will find something to complain about in terms of the media and the BBC.  If Labour supporters are upset one week then it will be Tory supporters upset the next week and I'm sure Lib Dems supporters are upset a great deal about there lack of coverage.

Some of the BBC's current affairs output is excellent.  But some is sadly very poor i.e Daily Politics and This Week are becoming very immature.  Question Time is spolit by the fact there are too many guests on the show plus the David Dimbleby believes the show is about him rather than the audience.

But generally I think the BBC do a good job in terms of there political coverage, one thing that would improve it my eyes would be if they sacked Diane Abbott from This Week.


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#5)

by Andrea on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:04:58 PM GMT

"Question Time is spolit by the fact there are too many guests on the show plus the David Dimbleby believes the show is about him rather than the audience"

In recent times they were some episodes where they also had a pretty poor line up of guests

"But generally I think the BBC do a good job in terms of there political coverage, one thing that would improve it my eyes would be if they sacked Diane Abbott from This Week. "

Pay attention to what you ask for...you can end up with Clare Short replacing her!


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#6)

by MM on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:19:38 PM GMT

The Question Time last week was awful, some very simplistic views expressed.  The guests were all saying we should pull out of Iraq and that would reduce the terrorist threat here in the UK - they are living in a fantasy world.  I dislike QT as it becomes a bit of Government bashing session each week but after 10 years in power thats to be expected.  It needs good quality ministers to defend the Govt. record unfortuntly in recent weeks Labour's not had that.

Abbott and Short are simply awful, yet I think Andrew Neill adores both of them he seems to believe that both of them are key figures in Labour.  It comes to something when I actually prefer to listen to Portillo on This Week.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#10)

by Andrea on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:31:33 PM GMT

"I dislike QT as it becomes a bit of Government bashing session each week but after 10 years in power thats to be expected.  It needs good quality ministers to defend the Govt. record unfortuntly in recent weeks Labour's not had that"

yes, sometime  Lab ministers seem a bit out of their depth during their Question Time appearances. And I'm not sure that going there and just smiling and going on saying everything is fantastic is a great tactic either.

Re Abbott and This Week...I think she's quite entertaining with Portillo. They have chemistry, at least.
I saw her on QT earlier this year and she was pretty awful. The Tory on the panel was Michael Gove and whilst he was speaking, she sometimes just looked around with a perplexed face. Still not sure if she was disagreeing with him or if she wasn't understanding what Gove was saying!


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#7)

by swatantra on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:21:04 PM GMT

Too many guests and the format is more suited to radio; 'Any Quetions' is infinitely more superior.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#4)

by AJScobbie on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 08:34:38 PM GMT

Sorry but I get fed up at this constant groping that some of our members have against the bbc.

Read the right wing blogs and you will find plenty of criticisms that say the BBC is too pro-labour.

What does all of that tell me? That partisan supporters are overly sensitive to political coverage and forget that the independence of the BBC is worth more than any cheap political concern.


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#8)

by swatantra on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:23:06 PM GMT

You're onto a loser if you start picking fights with the BBC or even ITV. Generally they are fair in their reporting and comment. Just grin and bear it; no one will notice the faux pas.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#13)

by alexswanson on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 06:19:36 AM GMT

"Generally they are fair in their reporting and comment."

No!

What they are is left-wing. Watch/listen carefully and you will find that while they are often happy to criticise the government, that criticism almost invariably comes from a left-wing perspective. They never, for example, challenge the idea that high public spending is good and that higher spending is better.

I have campaigned in many elections for the Conservative Party, and come across many anti-Conservative voters with false and/or distorted ideas of what the Conservative Party believes or stands for. Almost invariably, careful questioning eventually elicits some variation on "It must be true, I heard it on the BBC".


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#9)

by otware on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 09:28:09 PM GMT

I'm behind Andrew Marr 100% here. The 'war on terror' is like no other war we have had. To be honest it is not really a 'war' in the traditional sense at all.

The Bush administration likes to describe everything as a 'war' to stir things up a bit and get public opinion behind them. Who would have supported the 'war on terror' if it had been the 'reasoned argument against extremism'?


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#11)

by Loz on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 10:41:24 PM GMT

I don't think its got anything to do with populism.

A war is a war. Who ever said it had to be fought between two nations with borders?

When terrorists fly planes into your buoldings and you launch a military response, it sounds very much like a war is underway.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#12)

by AJScobbie on Sun Nov 19, 2006 at 11:58:19 PM GMT

You must be the last person on the planet who still believes in the war on terror not being a rallying cry for the Bush Administration and nothing more.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#14)

by Glass House on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 07:04:15 AM GMT

No need to take such a patronising tone with Loz


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#22)

by Loz on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 02:28:11 PM GMT

So does that make me wrong?

You didn't even answer the points I made to back up my perspective.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#20)

by swatantra on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 01:58:55 PM GMT

One incident doesn't make a war unless the Neocons are just sitting around waiting for an excuse to invade Iraq and Afghanistan; and they were. Intelligencetells us  Bush knew the likihood of this plot and had been warned of the possibility well in advance.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#23)

by Loz on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 02:30:23 PM GMT

'One incident doesn't make a war'

Historically, you are incorrect.

'unless the Neocons are just sitting around waiting for an excuse to invade Iraq and Afghanistan; and they were'

C'mon, thats just baseless conspiracy nonsense.

'Intelligencetells us  Bush knew the likihood of this plot and had been warned of the possibility well in advance.'

Yes, he had been WARNED, as he is of virtually ever other conceivable plot.

Thats the way it works.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#24)

by AJScobbie on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 03:37:03 PM GMT

Look its obvious that you and I are never going to agree about the Iraq War.

Could you at least be persuaded that its highly controversial and a sizeable number of people are never going to be persuaded that the following statements are untrue:

  1. It was all about oil.
  2. Blair lied to us.
  3. George Bush and co are mad, evil people etc etc

I am being incredibly simplistic here but thats the level of argument you will find out there in the country and often reflected in the media.

I am not saying that I believe any of those broad statements just that I think its clear that a sizeable number of people do believe and no amount of rational conversation will ever persuade them otherwise. We are past that point.

So what I am suggesting is that Iraq is an issue that is above party politics. It is not a vote winner for us and will continue to sour our relationship with the electorate. The pro war and anti war wings of the party should stop this incessant attack/defence and admit what everyone knows.

We are divided. The British people are divided and no matter what any of us say nothing can change the fact that the war happened.

Lets admit that and move on. Lets stop the vitriol from all sides and advance a positive agenda and reflect on the things that this Government has done that I am sure most of us are at least a little happy with.

Am I being naively optimistic here?


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#25)

by Loz on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 03:44:27 PM GMT

They may not be persuaded, but that is sad. There is no evidence to back those claims up.

As much as it would be nice to move on, how on earth can we expect to regain those votes we may lose or have already lost?

Do you really think they'll forigve that quickly?

I mean, if they believe the leader of our party was complicit in a lie that sent our troops into Iraq, then surely our future leader, will be held to account also for that decision? People would have to be willfully naieve to believe otherwise.

My own opinion is that these distortions need to be confronted.

I certainly believe we can do that and at the same time put out that forward looking agenda.

Ultimately though, sweeping it under the carpet will do no good, because as we know, the press and the opposition parties, especially the lib dems will have little else to campaign on.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#26)

by AJScobbie on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 04:16:01 PM GMT

I really appreciate that reply Loz.

Normally I never drop an argument based upon a principal/policy that I agree with. In the case of Iraq it seems as if we have passed a tipping point in public opinion.

The more we remain defiant then the more likely the Lib Dems and other parties can use the war as an issue that resonates with the public.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#28)

by grimupnorth on Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 04:21:36 PM GMT

Er, excuse me.The war in Iraq  was a  response to 9/11 ????????? you  guys are off the scale - what right-wing nonsense - what on earth are you doing  in the Labour Party.Unbelievable tosh. Blair told us  it was  about WMD. Fact. He got it wrong. Fact.
The public  hate us - and him -  for it.Fact.
No wonder Labour Ministers get a hard time on Question Time. They deserve to.It makes me ashamed to be a member watching them parrot out "the line"  week after week. When will you get it???   Iraq will continue to be an issue until we get a new Labour leadership untainted with the deaths of thousands. No doubt  you're a  mate of Luke  "The Nuke" Akehurst.Or are you he????


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#29)

by Loz on Tue Nov 21, 2006 at 07:00:40 PM GMT

'Er, excuse me.The war in Iraq  was a  response to 9/11 ?????????'

And where did anyone say that????

Get your facts right.

'what on earth are you doing  in the Labour Party'

Who the hell are YOU to question other peoples 'labour' credentials. Disgraceful.


[ Parent ]

The BBC War on everybody (#15)

by Mark Wadsworth on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 11:21:02 AM GMT

The BBC have their own PC world view, which infuriates everybody. But that's just fine. Attacks on Labour are indeed usually from the left, but the BBC are quite nice to Cameron and Farage. While waging a vendetta against the BNP. The news and QT seems to have a pro-Islamic bias. But then again, they occasionally do programmes on atheism or how pointless religion is. And there's plenty of Christian stuff on on Sundays.


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#16)

by Juvenal on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 12:13:29 PM GMT

My own very unscientific, and possible naive, rule of thumb is - if everyone's criticising you, you're probably being pretty even-handed.


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#17)

by Mark Wadsworth on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 01:27:25 PM GMT

I think you are pretty spot on with that. The BBC winds me up no end, but they wind up everybody else as well, so that's OK. The only one beyond redemption is Paxo, who is just rude for the sake of it. Bring back Frost.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#18)

by swatantra on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 01:54:42 PM GMT

Oh no, not Frost please; he does the easy questions. You might as well have Des O'Conner along or Richard and Judy. Lets stick to Paxo and Humphries who ask the questions we want to ask.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#21)

by Mark Wadsworth on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 02:26:50 PM GMT

Frost is the genius who got Donald Rumsfeld to admit the Iraq War was about oil a couple of years ago (I could not believe my ears, but there it was) and who last week got T Blair to admit that things in Iraq were an umitigated disaster (or whatever phrase he used).

Like Fiona Philips on GMTV, you have to really watch out for her. I kid ye not, she reels politicians in and then spits them out.


[ Parent ]

Re: The BBC War on Labour (#19)

by liz on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 01:55:09 PM GMT

I have started to contact the BBC when I am unhappy about their coverage. The most recent contact involved a reporter's use of language when referring to the PM.  I no longer watch any  programme involving political journalists.  BBC Parliament is watchable as there is no commentary, the World Service Radio and, of course, the internet provides valuable resources. Most political journalists are arrogant,  insult my intelligence and I am often astonished at the spin they put on their reports.  It very much appears to me that there has been a general dumbing down of political reporting.  I also feel their negativity in how they interview politicans or give an unbalanced report on a policy, is fuelling cynicism of the political process.


Re: The BBC War on Labour (#27)

by Anonymous on Mon Nov 20, 2006 at 10:49:47 PM GMT

He established the disclaimer "so-called" when he first used the term war on terror, it was not necessary the next few times he mentioned the phrase.

Stop getting your knickers in a twist.


The BBC War on Labour | 29 comments (29 topical)