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I'm digging back gradually through the Today programme archive to see how they handled the run-up to the June elections. In a recent post I showed how James Naughtie tried hard to undermine David Cameron, whereas that nice Evan Davis was all sweetness and light (as, in fairness, he tends to be in general) with Gordon Brown. Going back to May 30th, and we find Today doing its bit to damage UKIP. Here's the link, so you too can re-live a classic instance of BBC bias. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8074000/8074968.stm
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The interview between John Humphrys and Nigel Farage (I.C. of 0.9) is not really the problem. The problem was Mark Mardell, then the BBC's Europe editor, and his dreadful report. Nigel Farage called it 'grossly unfair' - and he was dead right. UKIP can bless their lucky stars that Mardell has moved his large frame over to the USA & won't be smearing them come the 2010 general election.
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Here are some of Mardell's classic lines from the piece:
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"Most members of the European parliament regard UKIP as profoundly unserious pranksters with a weird obsession."
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"Mr Farage admits that he's spent a lot of time fighting off a takeover by the far-right. That must say something about the sympathies of some members."
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"UKIP condemns the EU gravy train but a good proportion seem to have prominent gravy stains all down their blazers."
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"The European Parliament, for all its bad reputation, is a place where the politicians have a serious job, modifying, tweaking, even kicking out proposed new laws. UKIP don't boast of any achievements on this front and their opponents say they've voted against Britain's interests in a host of areas from fishing to trade talks."
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"If not the BNP in blazers then there is something of the golf-club militant
about UKIP."
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"In a parliament that's about quiet conciliation not gestures they make a lot of noise."
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Mardell's comments on Today and radio 4 on the Nigerian airbomb fiasco are truly surreal, and I have been forced to comment to the Toady Programme today.
ReplyDeleteHe keeps stating that the Republican's are taking advantage of this situation, not mentioning that the Democratic press are also calling for the resignations of the heads of the CIA and Home Security.
Either he is seriously incompetent or criminally biased (or both)in not giving due credit to the bbc's favorite USA party.
Exactly. And the incompetence and bias isn't just confined to Mark Mardell. Where the BBC's U.S. editor goes, his running dogs usually aren't far behind.
ReplyDeleteHere's another example of just what you're talking about from the BBC News website today: "Mr Obama is facing increasing criticism for not having responded sooner and with more strength to the foiled bomb attack. The BBC's Richard Lister, in Washington, says the attempted bombing is being seized upon as a political issue with Republicans trying to give the impression that Mr Obama is weak on national security."
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8434275.stm)