To think the BBC has become a mouthpiece for Reform and will help win them the next election

Hazlenuts2016 · 2026-03-08T10:53:00+00:00

Previously posted in politics but now posting in AIBU for more traffic. Watching Laura K this morning shamelessly talking over everything Yvette Cooper was saying and then interview Robert Jenrick as if he were a key member of the (proper) shadow cabinet and barely challenge him at all. Why was he even given airtime this morning? I think she and Chris Mason, particularly, are on the wrong side of history and will regret it when Farage gets in, abolishes the BBC and they have to beg for jobs at GB News. The excessive amount of time the BBC gives to Reform and their endless criticism of Labour is so blatant.

Meadowfinch · 10/03/2026 12:38

I've seen interviews with Lib Dems, Tories, Greens, Reform, even the guy from restore or whatever it is called.

Seems pretty even-handed to me

zurigo · 10/03/2026 12:37

Thing is OP, I think whatever your personal political views, you're going to want those politicians given an easier ride than the opposition. I've certainly seen LK give politicians of all stripes a hard time. She didn't go easy on the Conservatives when they were in power and she is robust in her questioning of the Labour party now - as well she should be. The unreadiness of HMS Dragon and the ridiculous amount of time it's taken to get it ready to leave is a national embarrassment. The French have brought out a video mocking us FGS!

Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 11:59

@zurigo not the first time she's been accused of treating Cooper unfairly apparently. This example was from before Cooper was even in govt, so she has always treated her with more intense scrutiny than Jenrick's easy ride. So many similar claims about LK over the years, so i really dont think its just about my dislike of Reform. https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/05/laura-kuenssbergs-bias-finally-addressed-bbc-huge-backlash-20227929/

Laura Kuenssberg's 'bias' finally addressed by BBC after huge backlash

She had been criticised for a comment made during an interview with a Labour politician.

https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/05/laura-kuenssbergs-bias-finally-addressed-bbc-huge-backlash-20227929/

OP posts:

EasternStandard · 10/03/2026 11:19

Yabu but I think people know the BBC is better to have if you want to keep a Labour gov. Scrapping it would not be favourable to them.

zurigo · 10/03/2026 11:11

YABU. Yvette Cooper is in government, she is making decisions every single day that impact us, the voting public. It is completely reasonable for LK to question her on what she is doing, her views and motivations. Robert Jenrick is not in government, so he's only being asked what he thinks about what the government is doing. His views count for nothing currently and have no impact on any of us.

TeenagersAngst · 10/03/2026 11:09

I've now listened to the interview and can't see how LK was rude to Yvette Cooper. Cooper wasn't answering her questions directly (go figure) especially on the delays around the deployment of HMS Dragon. It's clear they dropped the ball on that. Laura was trying to get an answer out of her and journalists often speak over their interviewees. I wouldn't call that rude.

Jenrick had only a few minutes on air and she asked him very specific questions about Reform's perspective on the war which he answered. It's easier for opposition politicians to be honest with journalists so I'm not surprised that Cooper was prevaricating around answering questions that she didn't want to.

I think your obvious dislike of Reform is colouring your view of LK.

Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 07:37

@TeenagersAngstagain no evidence of this lack of organisation of other parties, just speculation. But even if it is true, the lack of scrutiny applied to Jenrick and Farage and the total disrespect shown towards MPs like Cooper is plain for all to see. If you're right about the scheduling issue I hope the other parties get their acts together, but I really don't think it's the issue.

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TeenagersAngst · 10/03/2026 07:31

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 07:05

@TeenagersAngstwhy would the other parties, especially LD, not want a platform? That doesn't make any sense. There is no evidence that that is the case and plenty of evidence that there has been disproportionate coverage given to Farage over the years and now Reform. I firmly believe Laura K is very right wing and that has been said for years. She definitely treated Cooper poorly on Sunday. Chris Mason similarly biased in his gloating over amy Labour crisis. The BBC have had political appts in their leadership. Victoria Derbyshire is however, excellent when she stands in for LK, but her own show got cut.

I’ve worked in broadcasting and people being disorganised and not agreeing to invites or not showing up is more common than you think.

I think you’re trying to see something that maybe just isn’t there?

Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 07:05

@TeenagersAngstwhy would the other parties, especially LD, not want a platform? That doesn't make any sense. There is no evidence that that is the case and plenty of evidence that there has been disproportionate coverage given to Farage over the years and now Reform. I firmly believe Laura K is very right wing and that has been said for years. She definitely treated Cooper poorly on Sunday. Chris Mason similarly biased in his gloating over amy Labour crisis. The BBC have had political appts in their leadership. Victoria Derbyshire is however, excellent when she stands in for LK, but her own show got cut.

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TeenagersAngst · 10/03/2026 06:59

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 06:50

@PeachOctopus the latest yougov poll puts Greens at 21% and Reform at 23%

OP, you haven’t replied to any of the PP who suggest it’s simply down to scheduling arrangements and nothing to do with the BBC trying to engineer a Reform victory (which does sound ludicrous).

Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 06:57

@BeAvidHikerI'm not a Greens fan/voter, but if you look at the latest yougov poll there is only 2% between them and Reform. Their popularity is going down.

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Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 10/03/2026 06:50

@PeachOctopus the latest yougov poll puts Greens at 21% and Reform at 23%

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Ellen2shoes · 10/03/2026 00:25

There’s no doubt that Reform have been platformed beyond reason. A quick google will tell you that, for example:

Analysts have noted that Farage appeared as a guest on Question Time roughly 38 times by late 2024, despite not being an MP for most of that period.

I don’t think smarming for coffee justifies that. Think Corbyn has been invited on 3 times in total? Polanski has had no such privilege, despite surging popularity. Happy to be disproved.

Ongoing pattern once he became an MP and I, like the old fart that I am, wrote to the BBC questioning rationale and they justified it by saying it’s cos he’s so popular.

It isn’t just the platforming; it is, as has been mentioned, the lack of challenge in tone and content that I find odd.

BIossomtoes · 09/03/2026 22:32

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 09/03/2026 22:20

Yes and she’s 100% spot on.

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So it only works one way? Good to know.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 09/03/2026 22:20

BIossomtoes · 09/03/2026 22:04

Says the person who wrote Pretty much sums up the Marxist far left. Full of contempt for the little people. And full of their own moral superiority. Despite the Greens being absolute fruitcakes.

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Yes and she’s 100% spot on.

BIossomtoes · 09/03/2026 22:04

BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 22:02

They can’t help it. It’s some kind of reflex.

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Says the person who wrote Pretty much sums up the Marxist far left. Full of contempt for the little people. And full of their own moral superiority. Despite the Greens being absolute fruitcakes.

BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 22:02

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They can’t help it. It’s some kind of reflex.

BIossomtoes · 09/03/2026 22:01

unlikelymango · 09/03/2026 21:57

Oh I don't know, "matey", I seem to remember plenty of criticism of Boris Johnson and his government. Non stop, in fact.

Farage may be a fixture on QT but they hardly roll out the red carpet for him do they? He's treated with contempt. They have him there for debate and good telly, not because they agree with his principles.

Or perhaps we are living in parallel universes?

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He’s getting disproportionate exposure regardless of the QT producers’ motivation.

Original poster

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 21:59

@BeAvidHikerit wasn't chat gpt, it was Ipsos, as stated. The point is, a Reform victory is NOT as much of a sure thing as you'd like it to be and so there is hope for society yet.

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IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 09/03/2026 21:58

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unlikelymango · 09/03/2026 21:57

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 09/03/2026 21:42

Yes, the BBC so "rabidly far left" they basically have Farage a permanent fixture on QT, platform Reform at every single opportunity, refused point-blank to air anything remotely critical of Boris Johnson's government because he told them he withdraw journalistic access entirely if they did and they simply keeled over, Tory donors everywhere at Board level, etc etc

There's only one "delusional" take here matey.

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Oh I don't know, "matey", I seem to remember plenty of criticism of Boris Johnson and his government. Non stop, in fact.

Farage may be a fixture on QT but they hardly roll out the red carpet for him do they? He's treated with contempt. They have him there for debate and good telly, not because they agree with his principles.

Or perhaps we are living in parallel universes?

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 09/03/2026 21:49

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XDownwiththissortofthingX · 09/03/2026 21:46

BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 18:49

Pretty much sums up the Marxist far left. Full of contempt for the little people. And full of their own moral superiority. Despite the Greens being absolute fruitcakes.

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"Marxist far left"

This is the latest nonsense on Mumsnet. Label everything and anyone who isn't a raving racist, fascist, xenophobic, neo-liberal, uber-capitalist, swivel-eyed lunatic "far left".

It's laughable.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 09/03/2026 21:42

unlikelymango · 09/03/2026 14:34

Absurd and delusional take. The BBC are rabidly far-left.

Yes, the BBC so "rabidly far left" they basically have Farage a permanent fixture on QT, platform Reform at every single opportunity, refused point-blank to air anything remotely critical of Boris Johnson's government because he told them he withdraw journalistic access entirely if they did and they simply keeled over, Tory donors everywhere at Board level, etc etc

There's only one "delusional" take here matey.

BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 21:39

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 21:24

@BeAvidHiker Recent surveys from Ipsos:

Are Reform / The Conservatives ready for government?

A quarter (25%) of Britons agree that Reform UK are ready to form the next government, while 58% disagree. Their position has slightly worsened from September 2025 (when 53% disagreed).
Just 14% agree the Conservatives are ready to form the next government. 65% disagree.
The picture for Reform and the Conservatives is worse than previous successful opposition parties just before they won elections.
In July 2024 49% agreed Keir Starmer’s Labour Party was ready for government. 34% disagreed.
In May 2010, 65% agreed David Cameron’s Conservative Party was ready for government. 26% disagreed.
In April 1997, 55% agreed Tony Blair’s Labour Party was ready for government.
A similar picture is observed when asking whether Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch are ready to be Prime Minister.
24% agree Nigel Farage is ready to be Prime Minister and 59% disagree.
16% agree that Kemi Badenoch is ready to be Prime Minister and 57% disagree.
Before the last General Election, 41% agreed Keir Starmer was ready to be Prime Minister. In April 2010 51% agreed David Cameron was ready and in April 1997 53% agreed that Tony Blair was ready.

Thanks for the chat GPT copy/paste. What’s your point?