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Original poster

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

83 replies

Hazlenuts2016 · 08/03/2026 10:53

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.

OP posts:
WithaLittle · 09/03/2026 21:37

Boomer55 · 09/03/2026 16:19

Probably because Cooper and Labour are awful, and Jenrick and his party are awful.

The greens are just a joke,

I wouldn’t vote reform, but they are carrying no government baggage.

Show quote history

I have contact with Yvette Cooper professionally.

She is very principled, a fantastic professional and very smart. Nothing gets past her!

Original poster
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.

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BIossomtoes · 09/03/2026 20:02

BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 18:46

Here we go again. You don’t like Reform, so apparently the BBC is a mouthpiece for reform. Reform are leading. Get over it. If people didn’t want Reform to surge, perhaps they should have held back from shoving their far left political views on everyone and calling everyone who questions mass immigration racist.

There’s a greater percentage of people with what you consider “far left” political views than Reform supporters. Add up the voting intentions for Labour, Libdem and Green parties and see what you get. Reform’s numbers are falling back again now anyway.

Westfacing · 09/03/2026 18:58

Not just the BBC - the media as a whole just can't get enough of Farage.

Although he's been around for years he's still a bit of a novelty act and an 'outsider' - guaranteed to give good copy. I loathe him but he is the UK's most influential politician.

Being so high profile and a personality isn't a bad thing though - Reform will sink without trace if Farage falls out with them, as he always did with his other parties; they're nothing without him.

hattie43 · 09/03/2026 18:57

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:52

@hattie43I've never said the other parties haven't had scandals. But nobody else in a major political party would get away with having a racist past like Farage, proclaiming Hitler was right. Anyone else would have been forced to resign by now, from any party. But he hasn't because he is powerful and most of our media are backing him. Because there will be tax breaks for their companies when he gets in. And lives of the poorest will be worse because of it. If you want to know what a Reform promise looks like, just see what they are doing locally. 75k spent on flags in Notts. Millions on a waste consultant in Leics. And not able to slash council tax as they pledged because ..well its not that easy!

None of that interests me . You vote your way and I’ll vote mine .

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:52

@hattie43I've never said the other parties haven't had scandals. But nobody else in a major political party would get away with having a racist past like Farage, proclaiming Hitler was right. Anyone else would have been forced to resign by now, from any party. But he hasn't because he is powerful and most of our media are backing him. Because there will be tax breaks for their companies when he gets in. And lives of the poorest will be worse because of it. If you want to know what a Reform promise looks like, just see what they are doing locally. 75k spent on flags in Notts. Millions on a waste consultant in Leics. And not able to slash council tax as they pledged because ..well its not that easy!

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BeAvidHiker · 09/03/2026 18:49

Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 17:16

There was a very entertaining Twitter feed from a researcher at BBC question time which said they always liked booking Nigel as he was charming and responded promptly to all requests, whereas the Greens were pompous and late in replying.

I think Nigel Farage is a massive arse but I could imagine him charming the right people and the Greens being clueless as to why this was necessary.

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 18:46

Here we go again. You don’t like Reform, so apparently the BBC is a mouthpiece for reform. Reform are leading. Get over it. If people didn’t want Reform to surge, perhaps they should have held back from shoving their far left political views on everyone and calling everyone who questions mass immigration racist.

CruCru · 09/03/2026 18:45

Firtreefiona · 09/03/2026 17:16

There was a very entertaining Twitter feed from a researcher at BBC question time which said they always liked booking Nigel as he was charming and responded promptly to all requests, whereas the Greens were pompous and late in replying.

I think Nigel Farage is a massive arse but I could imagine him charming the right people and the Greens being clueless as to why this was necessary.

I've heard this too. Supposedly, Reform have a policy of being really quick to say yes to TV appearances. They turn up on time and are polite to the TV production junior who brings them a coffee.

hattie43 · 09/03/2026 18:36

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:21

@hattie43so we are to believe Farage, a man whose Brexit victory was built on that lie about the NHS, when he says he will protect the NHS? How can people trust him. The man is pure poison and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near government.

Read that back and tell me Labour aren’t exactly the same , lies , scandal , lame duck Keir not even in charge of his party .
Besides none of that interests me . I’m only interested in who I think puts this country and its loyal citizens first . I went right as soon as our statues were being pulled down and our heritage trashed . I want law and order .

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:21

@hattie43so we are to believe Farage, a man whose Brexit victory was built on that lie about the NHS, when he says he will protect the NHS? How can people trust him. The man is pure poison and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near government.

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hattie43 · 09/03/2026 18:13

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:04

@hattie43 did you also believe the line about 350 million a week going into the NHS?

No I didn’t .

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 18:04

@hattie43 did you also believe the line about 350 million a week going into the NHS?

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hattie43 · 09/03/2026 17:58

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:54

@hattie43goodbye NHS

Nope . The NHS will still be there. That’s an old trope trotted out all the time by the left trying to use any desperate rhetoric to persuade people that the right are bad .

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:54

@hattie43goodbye NHS

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Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:53

@PeachOctopus well if you're going to give them a platform at least treat them with the same level of scrutiny you apply to the greens and lib dems. Not treat Sunday With Laura K as a party political broadcast by Reform.

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hattie43 · 09/03/2026 17:52

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:37

@BlueJuniper94it contains the worst, most incompetent members of the previous government. Nadine Dorries sometimes represents them on Question Time. As culture sec she didn't even know how channel 4 was funded. Suella and Jenrick couldn't sort out immigration but seem to think it's easy to manage now they've left. They are the 'acceptable' faces beside other deeply unpleasant people like Matt Goodwin who is so far right he is endorsed by Tommy Robinson. And Farage has been accused by 30+ people of racism, chalking it up to playground banter. These are dangerous people. Lack of skills mixed with wealth, power and racism.

All good . Let’s hope they win .

BlueJuniper94 · 09/03/2026 17:48

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:37

@BlueJuniper94it contains the worst, most incompetent members of the previous government. Nadine Dorries sometimes represents them on Question Time. As culture sec she didn't even know how channel 4 was funded. Suella and Jenrick couldn't sort out immigration but seem to think it's easy to manage now they've left. They are the 'acceptable' faces beside other deeply unpleasant people like Matt Goodwin who is so far right he is endorsed by Tommy Robinson. And Farage has been accused by 30+ people of racism, chalking it up to playground banter. These are dangerous people. Lack of skills mixed with wealth, power and racism.

Matt Goodwin is a lot less "far right" than you think. There is a very vocal "further right" that despise Goodwin

PeachOctopus · 09/03/2026 17:44

ReformUK29%
Labour21%
Conservative18%
Greens12%
Lib Dems10%
Others5%
SNP2%
PC2%

The latest poll has Reform at 29% so if most of the electorate are intending to vote for them then they should have media coverage to find out more about them.

The 29% pay the BBC licence fee and so the BBC content should reflect that.

UK 29% Labour 21% Conservative 18% Greens 12% Lib Dems 10% Others 5% SNP 2% PC 2% Poll

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:41

@Swiftie1878well I did wonder why Jenrick even had a platform on Sunday in the context of what they were discussing. He isn't in the shadow cabinet. And if you think Laura K is impartial, please compare the mild mannered way she interviews Farage (usually prerecorded) with her approach to Labour politicians. Farage has got a lot to answer for and his Brexit legacy has left us with a whole load of issues he never wants to discuss. She never challenges him on anything.

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Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:37

@BlueJuniper94it contains the worst, most incompetent members of the previous government. Nadine Dorries sometimes represents them on Question Time. As culture sec she didn't even know how channel 4 was funded. Suella and Jenrick couldn't sort out immigration but seem to think it's easy to manage now they've left. They are the 'acceptable' faces beside other deeply unpleasant people like Matt Goodwin who is so far right he is endorsed by Tommy Robinson. And Farage has been accused by 30+ people of racism, chalking it up to playground banter. These are dangerous people. Lack of skills mixed with wealth, power and racism.

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Mischance · 09/03/2026 17:32

To a degree I think Reform has been a media construct as all outlets have made too much of what was (and might have remained) a fringe party without them talking it up all the time.

I am delighted to see that Reform has its own breakaway movement now which hopefully will split the ultra-right wing vote and clip Reform's wings.

Swiftie1878 · 09/03/2026 17:26

Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:21

@Swiftie1878how is it not relevant to current events if his government created a lot of the current problems? What right does he have to lecture the current govt when he made a pig's ear of everything himself?

Well, that is politics, and that is politicians doing their job - holding the government to account.

I think your personal political views are tainting the way you see LK’s pragmatic approach to a political interview. If every time she interviews Jenrick she just goes at him for his appalling mistakes when he was in government, and suggests he has no right to now comment on what he current government is doing, it would all be a bit pointless really, wouldn’t it?

BlueJuniper94 · 09/03/2026 17:24

Possibly, but as containment, to try and hoover up and direct as much of the right wing vote into this pretend party as possible. It's not really right wing at all and contains cabinet members who presided over the Boriswave. The left should view that as a good thing.

Original poster
Hazlenuts2016 · 09/03/2026 17:21

@Swiftie1878how is it not relevant to current events if his government created a lot of the current problems? What right does he have to lecture the current govt when he made a pig's ear of everything himself?

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