Saturday, 10 April 2010

ALTERNATIVE REALITY CHECK

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Just when you thought BBC bias could go no further...
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The BBC's new 'Reality Check' service began with Robert Peston suggesting that Conservative proposals on NI go against "the good society".
http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.com/2010/04/unreality-check.html
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The second 'Reality Check' moved from the Conservatives' stance on NI to their stance on efficiency savings. Hugh Pym promised to investigate. I wrote:

Well, we'll see where this leads but, given that it's a story based on a Labour allegation against the Tories, and seems to be concentrating on the 'tough goal' for the Conservatives, do you blame me for worrying that Hugh's willingness to "help (us) form a judgment" is going to lead him to cast doubt most heavily on the Conservatives' promises?
http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.com/2010/04/reality-check-for-reality-check.html
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Well, he's done his work and, as I expected, he's judged heavily against the Conservatives. All the people he's spoken to agree, namely Gerry Gilbert of Standard Life and... "some independent academics" (independent!) who "have also questioned whether it can be done." Anyone else? Well, there's a video clip featuring a (previously unseen by me) attack on the Tories by...Prof Colin Talbot!!!!! (see previous posts!!!)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/parties_and_issues/8609135.stm
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I wrote in my last look at 'Reality Check', "The BBC's new Reality Check page is only just under way but, following on from Robert Peston's strange post about national insurance yesterday, looks as if it might possibly be about to become a Conservative Check page." Has this really turned out to be the case?
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Well, the third 'Reality Check' has arrived. An ominous rumble of thunder...it's by Mark Easton. A flash of lightning!...it's called Welfare: Can the Tories save billions in benefits?
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I think I can sum up my reaction to this turn of events with this remark:

!!!!!!!!!
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The article begins:
Welcome to Reality Check. Today I'm taking a close look at the Conservative pledge to cut billions from the welfare bill.
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Can you guess what conclusions his investigations lead him too? I bet you can!!
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So how much will their "three strikes and you're out" policy actually save?

We asked the Conservatives and they said "We can't say", so I have attempted to do the sums instead.

How many people have been convicted of benefit fraud three times? The Department for Work and Pensions tells me the answer is... zero. No-one. Ever.
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Even if we include those people cautioned as well as convicted, it is clear that this
proposal is not going to save much money.

The shadow work and pensions secretary, Theresa May, was asked by Reality Check if she knew there was no record of anyone being convicted three times for benefit fraud.

She declined to give a direct answer, but said the policy was intended to send out a clear message to benefit fraudsters.

It goes on:

The Conservatives' bigger promises on welfare rely on saving £600m within three years. Not by targeting cheats, but getting people off Incapacity Benefit (IB).
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But there's a problem with both figures.
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And Neil Coyle, of the Disability Alliance, believes the policy would hit the vulnerable.
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But if the consequence of reform is thousands of vulnerable individuals with long-term health conditions being treated unfairly, it's a policy with built-in dangers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/parties_and_issues/8611173.stm
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Three 'Reality Checks' from three top BBC reporters. Three 'Reality Check' that target the Tories and judge against them, ever more harshly. Easton's is the worst of the lot. He's worthy of his place in that line of anti-Tory BBC home affairs editors that included Polly Toynbee.
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I didn't think BBC bias could get any worse. It's getting worse. How far will they go to stop the Conservatives winning this election?

5 comments:

  1. As far as the BBC deem necessary to ensure the Conservatives are not elected.

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  2. That clip of Talbot could have been scripted by Mandelson. His CV shows that he was very active in student politics, nudge nudge wink wink.

    If the Conservatives get in with a healthy majority I cannot believe that they won't take steps to curb the BBC.

    I found this from a couple of years back where Jeremy Hunt, who has great influence in the party, questions the need for the TV tax.

    http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/07/jeremy-hunt-questions-future-of-bbc.html#links

    Andy C

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  3. Interesting that you focus on Mark Easton's alleged anti-Tory bias rather than the substance of his article. How can anyone take seriously a 3 strike and your out policy on benefit fraud when nobody's ever had 3 strikes? Seems to me like a very good piece of investigative journalism. The bias lies with you, not the BBC.

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  4. Wally, welcome to the site, keep on posting !

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  5. Indeed, for as Mrs Thatcher almost said "Every blogger needs a Wally".

    P.S Grant, I've been a bit stingy with the photos recently, haven't I?

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