OH, HOW PREDICTABLE!

*
A rather interesting (and depressing) report from the Labour stronghold of Dagenham by Shaun Ley on this lunchtime's The World This Weekend was followed by a discussion on a 'new politics', 'minor parties' and independents by former independent MP/BBC reporter Martin Bell, Mike Nattrass of UKIP and, as the representative of the 'big parties', Chris Grayling for the Conservatives...
*
...As if!!!!
*
No, the discussion took place between former independent MP/BBC reporter Martin Bell, Adrian Ramsey of the Greens and, as the representative of the 'big parties', Tessa Jowell for Labour.

DREAM ON SHAUN!

*
Shaun Ley talked about the latest polls on today's The World This Weekend and emphasised that the Conservatives are "the biggest casualties" and adds "a word of caution" too: "In two of the polls no more than four points separate the three biggest parties and since the margin of error in any poll is 3 points we may actually be looking at a statistical dead heat". That's very true. But I've "a word of caution" for Shaun too: That margin of error might also mean that we could be looking at as much as a 10 point Tory lead over Labour. It works both ways.

**
UPDATE: Here's an interesting spot from Umbongo on the latest Biased BBC open thread:
*
As a matter of interest, on Friday evening while BBC 24 was bigging up the YouGov poll and Cleggie, the YouGov poll was the only poll mentioned and noted on the ticker tape at the foot of the screen, Sky News - on a similar ticker-tape - displayed the results of ALL the current polls (about 5-10 seconds per poll) AFAIAA throughout the evening. Thus the state broadcaster edited out any indication that the YouGov poll might not be the only news in town. On Sky News meanwhile - which is owned by the same outfit which commissioned the YouGov poll in the first place - actually supplies impartial information (ie all the poll data available).
*
UPDATE II: It looks as if Shaun Ley's wishful thinking was just that!

2020: Latest poll - this time YouGov's daily one for the Sun - shows the Lib Dems in the lead on 33%, Conservatives 32%, Labour 26%, Others 8%. Polling was carried out on Saturday and Sunday.
*
Not even David Cowling can spin this one for Labour:
*
2106: On the latest poll from YouGov, our top poll analyst David Cowling says: "The normal margins of error make it unclear whether the Lib Dems or the Conservatives are really in first place but no dispute that Labour is third."

THE WORLD AT ONE, AT ONE, AT ONE

*
After its abysmal performance last week The World at One has a lot of ground to make up this week if it's not to be judged irredeemably biased.
*
Its coverage of the manifesto launches has been carefully choreographed. Each programme begins with a report on the launch followed by short reaction clips from the opposing parties. Then Martha Kearney considers some key policy areas and interviews some experts who are critical of the party's plans. A leading politician from the party concerned is then interviewed. Finally, the BBC's anti-Tory correspondent Norman Smith delivers his judgement.
*
*
Prior to discussing Labour's manifesto with Lord Mandelson on Monday, Martha talked to two critics - firstly Labour-supporting businessman and candid friend Sir Gerry Robinson, who is not keen on foundation hospitals, then Tony Butler, the former chief constable of Gloucestershire, who had some concerns about Labour's policing agenda. Peter Mandelson followed. This nigh-on-seven-minute-long interview concentrated nearly all of its interruptions during a short spell towards the end when Martha question his Lordship about the part-privatisation of Royal Mail. Other than that he got an easy ride. Norman Smith also gave Labour an easy ride in his assessment of their manifesto, using very measured language rather than his usual hyperbole.

The only breach of the programme's carefully choreography came later in this edition when another Labour pledge was assessed - on the national minimum wage and the idea of a 'living wage'. Ray Furlong explored the question "What difference will it make?" He talked to Diego, an immigrant Columbian cleaner, who described how much his life would improve if Labour's plan were widened to embrace the likes of him - point echoed by those "campaigners" who "see it as at least a small step in the right direction". One such, Matthew Bolton from London Citizens, who had "lobbied Labour on the manifesto pledge", was flushed with success but also wanted more. No voices against the idea were canvassed by Mr Furlong. Lord Digby Jones, former trade minister under Gordon Brown and ex-director of the CBI, was then interviewed by Martha. He loved the idea and wants it to become "aspirational" but he warned, reasonably enough, that we have no money left to keep promising this sort of thing.

This programme, incidentally, closed with a panel discussion, chaired by Martha, that featured Lord Digby, along with two Guardian-reading types - Josephine Fairly, who founded an "organic chocolate factory" and is a leading light in the Soil Association, and - from the far-Left - Marina Warner, a cut-glass-voiced "expert on fairy tales" (and a believer in one of them, written by a certain Mr K. Marx, by the sounds of it.) Ms Fairly attacked Liam Fox over Tory foreign policy while Ms Warner described the expenses scandal as a "skirmish to prevent us looking at the more serious problems which is basically the inequality of distribution of wealth and that fact that we no longer think there can be a philosophy of politics because we're being run by the finance economy that we actually think is irrevocable". She defended Labour, praised Europe and talked of "the others, on the Right" with their "dangerous" stuff about immigration.


The following day's programme turned to the Tories. Prior to Martha's interview with George Osborne, not two but three critics appeared. Why the extra critic?
*
There were no candid friends here. Conservative education plans were criticised by Emma Knights of the National Governors' Association, then their policing policy was rejected by Gloria Laycock, "a professor of crime science at UCL and a former advisor to the Home Office", and finally their plans to involve people in politics were rubbished by Andrew Russell, "a senior lecturer in politics at Manchester University". Well might George Osborne have said the following: "You did manage to choose three people who were pretty cynical about the public being involved in anything, as far as I could tell, the three interviews I've just listened to. It was all about Whitehall knows best how to police communities, and Whitehall knows best how to run schools and Whitehall knows best how to take decisions over your life and..." At which point Martha interrupted him. Despite a dodgy phone-line, Martha managed to interrupt him more consistently than she did Lord Mandelson. Norman Smith was back to his usual self afterwards (with hyperbole everywhere). There were difficulties for the Tories, they had nothing new to say on policy, their strategy on tackling the deficit is "already compromised", etc.
*
Shaun Ley was in Preston. It's one of many key marginals here in the North West (including the fair seaside resort of Morecambe). Jonathan Tonge, prof of politics at Liverpool University, talked of "Ashcroft money", a phrase Shaun picked up on, saying "and both those issues, Ashcroft money and immigration, we'll be talking about tomorrow..."


Today it was the Lib Dem manifesto launch. Vince Cable was preceded by two critics (note, not three): David Buik, "a market analyst with BGC Partners. He's also a supporter of the Conservative Party", said Martha (just to make sure we know where he's coming from), and John Whiting of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Mr Whiting was measured in his criticism. Not so Mr Buik, who went in all guns blazing (good man!) The interview with Vince was, surprisingly, the toughest of the lot. Martha interrupted him more than either of the others. (Has she been watching Andrew Neil?) Norman Smith's assessment was certainly less reverential than his assessment of Labour but not as loaded as his assessment of the Tories.
*
Two ordinary voters appeared later in the programme. What had appealed to them so far? One said said Labour's pledge to get young people back to work, the other said "Labour are the only ones who have said actually there is going to be a national insurance rise which in my eyes just scores points for honesty." The BBC's plan is clearly working, if those reactions are typical.
*

LEYING INTO GEORGE OSBORNE

*
Shaun Ley on The World At One (or, more likely, his editors) laid a long line of trip-wires in front of George Osborne, prior to the programme's interview with the shadow chancellor.
*
Shaun gave us a clunking (and characteristically dishonest) clip from Gordon Brown attacking the Tories, followed by two clips of Alistair Darling attacking the Tories, then a clip of Nick Clegg attacking the Tories. Shaun then mentioned that "group of economists" who had defended the government in their letter to The Times (all four of them! And note, economists rather than top businessmen). He then interviewed one of them, the afore-mentioned Prof Richard Portes of the London Business School, who attacked "the Tories" and "the debt and deficit hysteria" out there and lauded Crash Gordon's "huge achievement" in saving us from "the Great Depression". Gordon The Saviour Of The World!
*
George Osborne himself rather ran rings round Shaun Ley. The man is getting more assured and more convincing by the week (phew!). He effectively batted aside Shaun's closing trio of questions on...you guessed it...Chris Grayling and gay boarders. The BBC are not going to let that go, just as Shaun wouldn't let it go today. They have the bit between their teeth on the subject. They'll gnaw on anything that they think will harm the Conservatives (whether it will or not).
*

SHAUN LEYS OFF LADY ASHTON BUT BRAWLS WITH CHRIS HUHNE

*
Shaun Ley's political interviews on today's The World This Weekend showed two sides to him.
*
First came a scrap with the ubiquitous Chris Huhne of the Lib Dems (even Vince Cable barely gets a look in these days!). This was a scrap provoked by Mr Huhne, whose strategy in recent interviews has been clear - talk and talk and talk. After holding back from interrupting for an age, Shaun finally forced his way in and pressed his point. Huhne (a man even Gordon Brown would think twice about grabbing by the lapels) then got shirty about Shaun's assertion that the Lib Dems couldn't win a majority themselves in the election and then fumed about the fact that only the Lib Dems get asked about what they would do in the event of a hung parliament. He argued that the obsession with such questions prevents Lib Dem spokesmen from having their policies discussed (about which he is quite right). Both men locked horns and fought fiercely. The resultant I.C. was 1.1.
*
Then came the softest of interviews with BBC pin-up girl Baroness Ashton. The nearest Shaun Ley got to asking a tough question here was this: "Have you been taken aback by the degree of hostility on display?" There were no interruptions whatsoever, so that's an I.C. of 0.
*

HOT AIR BLOWS IN FROM THE LEFT

*
Today's World at One saw the return of Shaun Ley (after a long absence). With him came a deluge of left-liberal opinion.
*
Eurostar's difficulties with the snow were discussed with Tunde Olatunji of the government's subsidy-supporting rail watchdog Passenger Focus and critical Labour MP Louise Ellman (I.C. of 0.3).
*
MI5's robust defence of itself over allegations of collusion in torture was discussed with the government's terrorism tsar and Lib Dem lord Alex Carlile, who said exactly what you'd expect him to say (I.C. of 0).
*
The row over elderly care (see previous post) was discussed with Dame Joan Bakewell, who Shaun said "was appointed by ministers to champion the interests of older people, but stresses she's independent of government". (The whole programme was full of people of whom that could also have been said!). Joan is, of course, about as left-liberal as left-liberals get. She attacked the Tory R.I.P. poster as "grotesque" and "an insult to everybody".
*
The final slab of the programme turned to the issue of the 'recovery' and announced its intention of looking at the topic of growth areas for jobs over the coming months. On the day that the 0.5% growth figure came out I noted that both Michael Buchanon on the World at One and Jonty Bloom on The World Tonight concentrated on renewable energy companies, especially wind turbines, in their respective reports on the 'recovery'. The BBC's pushing of wind turbines is relentless. Today, when the topic re-surfaced (after going quiet for a while), guess what? Sometime-Tory-basher Ray Furlong trotted northwards to look at how wind-turbine companies could lead us out of recovery. We heard from various directors of various wind-turbine companies and just one other person..."Chris Goodall, writer, environmentalist and Green Party candidate for parliament."
*

SHAUN LEYBOUR

*
The whole of the second half of today's The World at One (14 minutes-worth of airtime) was devoted to a politicians' panel discussion on public spending cuts, presented by Shaun Ley. The three politicians interviewed were Eric Joyce, Patricia Hewitt and Charles Clarke. Yes, three Labour MPs!! Their interruption coefficients were 0.2, 0.2 and 0 respectively.
*
Shaun's on-air justification was that as Labour have been in power for the last 12 years, it would be good to hear from three politicians with recent experience of cutting public spending. Yes, that really was his justification for excluding all opposition politicians!!
*
As I've recorded every interview Shaun Ley has conducted on Radio 4 since June of this year I can now reveal that he has conducted the following number of interviews with politicians of each UK political party:

Labour - 49
Conservatives - 18
Lib Dems - 10
DUP - 1
Sinn Fein - 1
UUP - 1
UKIP - 1
*
In other words, he's interviewed more Labour MPs than all the politicians from all the other political parties put together (and by some margin, 49-32). Of course, because Labour is in power it is right that it in particular is held to account by journalists. (Tell that to Michael Crick!)So, if that's the reason why Labour dominates The World at One, you might expect to find that Shaun Ley interrupts Labour MPs more than those from the opposition parties. Not so, his average interruption coefficient against Labour is 0.37, whereas his average interruption coefficient against the Conservatives is higher at 0.45 - though for the Lib Dems it is a mere 0.14. (His figure against UKIP is higher still, at 0.5).
*
Shaun Ley is by no means the worst offender at the BBC - or anywhere near it -, but he is an offender nonetheless.

SHAUN LEY RE-WRITES THE McBRIDE AFFAIR

*
Shaun Ley was reviewing Gordon Brown's year on today's World at One, ignoring the prime minister's disgusting, disingenuous New Year message, which promises of a decade of prosperity if the voters don't ruin it all by voting for the wicked Conservatives. (If that man ever had a moral compass - and I really doubt it now - he lost it years ago).
*
Shaun recalled the McBride affair in the most bizarre terms imaginably, talking of "the fallout from the resignation of Damien McBride, an advisor accused of smearing Labour politicians on the prime minister's behalf." This is a complete re-write of history. Yes, McBride - and lots of other allies in the Brown bunker - did attack other Labour politicians but they also smeared Conservative politicians, and the wives of Conservative politicians, in the most disgusting way. It's that which hit the headlines. Why did Shaun Ley forget to mention that?

ALALECTS OF WILL HUTTON

*

Shaun Ley's World at One began by discussing the Chinese execution of Mr Shaikh. The BBC's eternal bias towards the Liberal-Left was much in evidence here, as Shaun turned for 'expert advice' to two Liberal-Lefties. First there was Jonathan Fenby, former editor of The Observer, and previously an editor at both The Guardian and The Independent. (He only needs The New Statesman & he'll have a full house!). Joining him was the omnipresent (though not omniscient) Will Hutton, another former editor of The Observer. Both doubtless know a lot about China but surely lots of right-of-centre (or just 'centre') people also know a thing or two about that vast empire and might be consulted on the subject by the BBC. (Ask Amir Taheri though whether a deep knowledge of a country/region helps you get a regular invite to appear on the BBC if you're not a Liberal-Leftie!!)

WARNING: THIS POST MAY INSULT LORD KINNOCK

*
Today's The World This Weekend featured a post-Christmas blow-out with three old blowhards - Michael Howard, Ming Campbell and Lord Neil Kinnock. Shaun Ley scored interruption coefficients of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.2 respectively against these three ex party-leaders (and weren't they all great successes?!).
*
There's not much concerning BBC bias here, but Kinnock's pomposity and clapped-out rhetoric certainly needs a fresh knocking, with its cliches, its repetitions, its bizarrely-placed stresses. Also, being an ex-Eurolord, he shamelessly bracketed UKIP with the BNP. Saying that "the only real gainers from that election (ie. June 2009) were the far right", he complained about the democratic legitimacy given to "prejudice and racism...by the BNP and to a degree by UKIP." Shouldn't Shaun Ley have challenged that smear against UKIP?
*
Kinnock, following Sir Ming's lead, also attacked blogs, saying "Really all of the blogs should carry health warnings." I agree. What about "This blog risks seriously criticising failed Labour leader, worse-than-useless Eurorogue, & all-round pompous goon Lord Neil Kinnock whenever it gets the chance"?
*
Incidentally, why was Kinnock's turkey anything but dry this Christmas? Because he still had so much gravy left over from the time he was a EU commissioner. Boom, boom!
**

IT'S THAT MANN AGAIN

*
Last night's Newsnight saw the return of Labour's John Mann. (He's beginning to give John McFall a good run for his money). He was discussing Labour's class war tactics against the Tories (as outlined in the preceding report by ex-Trotskyite Paul Mason) with Conservative David Gauke. Martha Kearney interrupted neither of them (I.C.s of 0 all round), but note that whereas Mr Mann got 3 minutes and 27 seconds-worth of the slot, Mr Gauke only got 1 minute 53 seconds. That's partly because he gave shorter answers than Mr Mann, but also because he was allowed fewer 'goes' than Mr Mann. The latter, indeed, got both the first and the last word.
*
This edition was also notable for an unedifying but revealing exchange between two absolute charmers on the subject of Climategate, as 'moderated' by Martha: Andrew Watson of East Anglia University (I.C. of 0.6) and Marc Morano, a leading American sceptic (I.C. of 2.5). We are now hearing from sceptics, which is only right and proper. I note that Bjorn Lomberg was on yesterday's World at One, along with Ed Miliband, I.C. of 0 for Shaun Ley. They may be dead wrong (or not), but now at least we can begin to judge for ourselves. (Let's hope the quality of debate improves though!)
*

'RICHARD' AND 'GAVE' ONLY

*
Thursday's The World At One, with Shaun Ley, was characteristically tilted towards the Left.
*
The BBC has (for some time now) been brainwashing us (along with its favourite economic commentators Vince Cable and John McFall) that bankers are the sole cause of all the economic woes that have so wounded this country in the last couple of years (absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with our own Labour government of course, despite its remarkable and well-document closeness to those very bankers throughout its long, long years in power). Should all those guilty-as-charged bankers who earn more than £1 million be named and shamed? That was Shaun's question. Who did he interview to explore the issue? Labour MP Jim Cousins, who is responsible for a Commons motion calling for a charge on banks that have received public help - a 'peoples' dividend', he calls it (I.C. of 0), and Labour peer Lord Paul Myners (I.C. of 0.5). All of Shaun's questions to Myners came from a 'name those names' standpoint. The brainwashing continues - as does the dominance of the Left in the BBC's worldview.
*
Greens dominate the BBC's worldview too, of course. The programme's discussion of China's promises on reducing carbon emissions was introduced with these typical words: "Expert comment this morning praised China's move as a gesture and a morale-booster." 'Expert comment' indeed! Who did he mean? Come on Shaun, name names!!
*
The issue was then discussed in interviews with Ailun Yang, head of Greenpeace China's Climate and Energy Campaign ("I think it's a very positive step"), and Charles McElwee, who "teaches environmental law at Shanghai University and has advised the Chinese government on the environment, though not on climate change. He stresses that today's move falls short of actual emission cuts" ("It's significant for a number of reasons. I think it shows a growing maturity on the part of the Chinese leadership.") So, both praised China's 'green' commitments but both wanted even more. Shaun Ley interrupted neither.
*
The third topic up for discussion was 'The Special Relationship' in the age of President Obama. It was discussed with Gavin Esler's chum from Dateline London, Stryker Maguire of Newsweek, and Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Blair's man at the U.N. Maguire is always soft on Obama, but so it seems is Sir Jeremy: "Most of Europe, including the U.K.. welcome the fact that there is a president in the Whitehouse who knows the world and seems to understand the outside world."
*
I'm not Shaun Ley and that was The World At One yesterday lunchtime.

OCTOBER'S I.C.s - SHAUN LEY

*
Shaun Ley of The World At One and The World This Weekend continues to confound my interruption coefficients. Despite ample anecdotal evidence of left-wing bias (for which please click here: http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.com/search/label/Shaun%20Ley) his figures again run completely counter to my expectations:

23/10 Alistair Darling Labour 1.5
11/10 Gerry Kelly Sinn Fein 1.2
08/10 Lord Young Labour 1.2
12/10 Liam Byrne Labour 0.9
09/10 Ed Miliband Labour 0.9
12/10 Albert Wharrad Labour 0.4
11/10 Stuart Bell Labour 0.4
02/10 Mark Francois Conservative 0.4
08/10 Liam Fox Conservative 0.4
11/10 Baroness Ludford Lib Dem 0.4
11/10 Jeffrey Donaldson DUP 0.3
04/10 William Hague Conservative 0.2
30/10 Ed Miliband Labour 0
02/10 Mark Todd Labour 0
04/10 Leon Brittan Conservative 0
18/10 David Curry Conservative 0
11/10 Charles Tannock Conservative 0


His averages for October work out (remarkably) as:
*
Sinn Fein - 1.2
Labour - 0.7
Lib Dems - 0.4
Conservatives - 0.2


Having so far studied 69 interviews by Shaun Ley, here are his super-average I.C. for the last 5 months:
*
Sinn Fein (1) - 1.2
UKIP (1)- 0.5
Conservatives (16) -0.41
Labour (41) - 0.37
DUP (1) -0.3
Lib Dems (8)- 0.08
UUP- (1) 0
*
If these figures confirm anything, it's that Shaun is very soft on the Liberal Democrats - and that he interview a lot of Labour politicians!

A TALE OF TWO PROGRAMMES

*
Two of Radio 4's Sunday presenters have been out and about this week -with very different results.
*
The World This Weekend's main story came from Macklesfield (which, for any Southern readers, is in Cheshire). Shaun Ley went there in hot pursuit of an embarrassing story for the Labour Party...no, sorry, I got that wrong...for the Conservative Party. The Conservatives have been experimenting with 'open primaries', but the rush to replace Sir Nicholas Winterton in a particularly safe seat has generated anger and Tory splits. Cue Shaun Ley: "What happens when the constituency association and the national party don't agree over who should be on the shortlist?", he asked. "Bad feelings and accusations of interference from London linger, leaving some with the sense this process may have been less than democratic". How embarrassing for the Conservative Party! Job done Shaun.
*
In contrast Paddy O'Connell on Broadcasting House presented what virtually amounted to an audio election-leaflet for Jack Straw. His report from Blackburn (in the fine county of Lancashire) featured lengthy excerpts from one of Jack's public meetings, where he mounts a soapbox and answers questions from all comers. This is admirable, and Paddy wasn't above saying so to Jack's face. 3 out of 4 of the chosen vox-pops agreed, describing Mr Straw's meetings as 'brilliant' and 'fantastic', and saying that it was 'splendid that he comes' and that he's 'a different brand to other politicians'. I have to say the answers I heard didn't sound very different from the usual answers politicians tend to give, but at least he stood there ready to take the flak. (You see, I'm falling for it too!!) There was also a gentle interview (I.C. of 0) with Jack Straw.
*
Paddy ended by giving a promise: "We'll follow other parties in the coming months". As Paddy is probably vain enough to google up this blog, let me say that I'll be listening to see that you live up to that pledge - and that you are just as kind to your other chosen politicians.

A HANDBAG?

*
The World This Weekend with Shaun Ley went beyond Westminster to consider the continuing repercussions of the expenses scandal. To where exactly? "I've been to a constituency in Berkshire where..." (wait for it!...) "...the Conservatives hope an open selection for a new candidate will neutralise the controversy over the expenses of their existing MP." Fancy that, going to a constituency with a scandal-hit Conservative MP, not a Labour one!
*
Shaun garnered a few vox-pops in the constinuency (Bracknell, held by Andrew MacKie). The first three were unimpressed with the Conservatives' selection plans, whereas the fourth - a posh chap, shortly off to the Caribbean - was supportive. A representative sample? We'll never know. How was the question phrased? We'll never know.
*

****

In an intriguing instance where bias was avoided, take Paddy O'Connell on this morning's Broadcasting House. The BBC's discovery that Gordon Brown may be one of those who has to pay back some more expenses money after tomorrow was discussed with a political correspondent called Tim. Paddy helpfully interjected, "And of course David Cameron also had to pay back money as well." I just wonder though, had the story been about Cameron whether Paddy would have been quite so keen to mention Brown's previous pay-back.

SHAUN GETS HIS COMEUPPANCE

*
The World This Weekend's Shaun Ley, who I foolishly said I would ley off, got into another tangle with William Hague. Every time this happens Ley comes out looking like a biased interviewer who cannot get his facts right. Mr Hague would score a bigger hit than me by blogging as Beeb Bias Bill, as he fisked Shaun with a vengeance.
*
Ley had presented a package on how the Tories couldn't win in the Northern Cities. As a North-Wester myself, the Tories' success in this region in the European elections has not gone unnoticed. That did not stop Shaun Ley. His report seemed fair. He may have interviewed a Thatcher-hating professor, but he also interviewed a Conservative chairman and a former MP. Both, however, criticised Cameron (the chairman calling him 'weak' and saying that many of his local party activists don't like Dave - contrary to much of the polling I've seen recently).
*
When Ley came to put this to Mr Hague, William rebutted all these criticisms with a forceful good humour than many of his colleagues could learn from.
*
The key moment came when Hague refuted the criticisms in Ley's report thus: "Go to Bury...and you will find Conservatives making great gains in recent years, including taking majority control in Bury."

How did Shaun answer this? By saying "I probably shouldn't get into an argument about Bury and Manchester cos I feel the people of Bury may feel a little different about that, but let's put that aside. Let's turn to the question of the Lisbon Treaty."

Well Shaun, let's not put this aside. What the hell are you talking about? What William Hague said was factually correct. You probably shouldn't get into an argument about it as a result. The people of Bury - despite how you 'feel' - can hardly 'feel a little different about that' because there is nothing to feel different about. The Conservatives have made great gains in recent years in Bury and have taken majority control in Bury. Why is Ley disputing this? Quite bizarre. The only reasonable explanation is that anti-Tory bias has descended like fog on his brain!
*

SHAUN STIRS IT FOR THE TORIES

*
Having been on a long, home-based holiday for nearly a month, I find myself in the position of having taken my eye off the ball somewhat. I praised Shaun Ley recently but, with eyes re-focused, find that his The World This Weekend was on fully biased form.
*
The programme began by fixing on the dilemma allegedly posed to the Conservative Party by the Irish 'Yes' vote in their second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. A brief snippet of Euro-sceptic Tory MP Richard Shepherd was drowned out by pro-European, anti-Cameron-line Conservatives, namely former MEP Margaret Daly and Lord Leon Brittan (who got a gentle hearing, being critical of Cameron's position). The cross-bencher Lord Kerr (and former ambassador to Brussels and Washington) was then wheeled in to add further criticism of David Cameron's Conservatives.ameron's Conservatives.
*
William Hague was interviewed later but Ley's interview gave him little time to counter this criticism, concentrating as it did on the Conservatives' alleged difficulties in the Northern Cities.

SEPTEMBER'S I.C.s - SHAUN LEY

**
Following my recent praise for a reformed Shaun Ley, how are his I.C.s looking for September.

Ed Balls Labour 1.7
Yvette Cooper Labour 1.2
Theresa May Conservative 0.9
Barry Sheerman Labour 0.7
John Spellar Labour 0.6
Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.2
Des Turner Labour 0
Basil McCrea UUP 0
Matthew Taylor Lib Dem 0
Paddy Ashdown Lib Dem 0
John Redwood Conservative 0
Brian Wilson Labour 0
George Osborne Conservative 0
Shirley Williams Lib Dem 0
Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0
John McFall Labour 2.06 0

Average number of interruptions per political party

Labour - 0.5

Conservatives - 0.3

Liberal Democrats 0.1

Ulster Unionists - 0

LEYING OFF SHAUN

I must say a big 'well done!' to Shaun Ley. He featured heavilly in the early days of this blog but has been missing this month. Why? Because he has proved himself capable of some fine interviewing, and the evidence for bias on his part (initially so strong) has disappeared. (Long may that continue!) His interview with Ed Balls on today's The World This Weekend was a particularly fine example, as Shaun stood up to the bully and won. Again, well done and keep it up!

AUGUST'S I.C.s - SHAUN LEY(ED-BACK)

*
I've presented quite a lot of evidence on this blog that Shaun Ley is biased towards the Left, but August's I.C. list reveals that bias taking a whole new turn (though that, of course, reflects much more the bias of the programme's editor rather than that of Ley himself) . Of the 12 interviews featured, 11 were with Labour spokesmen. The figures themselves, however, may only show that Shaun was in a very spaced-out mood last month.

28/8 Gisella Stuart, Labour - 0.7
21/8 Lord Trefgarne, Conservative - 0
21/8 Tam Dalyell, Labour - 0
4/8 Jim Cousins, Labour - 0
30/8 Alan Campbell, Labour - 0
6/8 Stephen Timms, Labour - 0
3/8 Ian Pearson, Labour - 0
5/8 Vera Baird, Labour - 0
2/8 Bill Rammell, Labour - 0
30/8 Jack Straw, Labour - 0
28/8 Frank Field, Labour - 0
4/8 Frank Field, Labour - 0