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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the BBC are showing a clear labour bias?

196 replies

blaeberry · 01/06/2017 01:09

I am basing this mostly on their news webpage. Over the last two weeks Corbyn has been smiling, looking benevolent, or standing at a podium on the BBC news home page nearly every day. Each time the headline has been pretty positive 'labour announce that' type thing. In contrast, May has been almost completely absent and Tory headlines have been negative 'Tories shown to be wrong'. I noticed this a few weeks ago so have been screen shot-ting a couple of times a day for the last two weeks (yes a bit mad I know). I have noticed a similar trend with the Radio 4 headlines though haven't been able to check that one. The question time audience last week was unquestionably partisan.

I did wonder if the Tories had hidden May or just decided not to bother campaigning but even then I thought the BBC were meant to be impartial?

OP posts:
20nil · 01/06/2017 08:36

It's a mixture, isn't it? Some of the journalists are clearly Tory, but on the other hand it massively over represents UKIP and has done for years. Why on earth is there routinely a UK person on Question Time etc.. when they don't have a single MP and barely any local councillors either? It is ridiculous and over inflated their hideous views.

MaisyPops · 01/06/2017 08:38

I agree 20 It's a mix and depends who you get on the wording.

I do think it's totally unreasonable how much airtime UKIP have had in the last few years though. It's like give a glorified pressure group a disproportionate amount of airtime and and the wonder why mainstream politics has collapsed in on itself and we've got a Brexit referendum.

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 08:40
Grin

Have you heard John Humphries interviewing any female Labour politician on R4?

He's biased and sexist to boot...

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/06/2017 08:41

To be fair even left leaning commentators were saying there was something wrong with the leanings of the audience last night.

The whole thing was a bit chaotic. There were quite a few on SM that turned off after the first 30 minutes.

With the shouting over each other, the whooping and clapping you couldn't hear what was being said.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 01/06/2017 08:41

There has been a blatant, unchallenged Tory bias throughout 90% of the print media and Sky news for decades, perhaps it's time the balance was readdressed?

Also I do wonder if those of you who banned the BBC from your homes extended that to the programs made by the BBC originally that crop up on satellite channels because they rely on them heavily.

LurkingHusband · 01/06/2017 08:42

If there is a bias, I think it's less towards the Tories, but more to placate Sky and the Murdoch Mob.

Murdoch has frequently complained about the BBC ... not it's editorial policies. Simply the fact it exists.

I'm sure he said in a parliamentary inquiry a while back that it was hard to persuade people to sign up to Sky while they had something as good as the BBC to compare it to.

20nil · 01/06/2017 08:43

Oh yes, the general print media is overwhelmingly Tory. No doubt about that. Was only talking about the BBC here.

20nil · 01/06/2017 08:46

Piglet: the BBC said they had recruited people from across the political spectrum and 50/50 on Brexit. Why would they lie?

Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 01/06/2017 08:49

The BBC is biased towards whoever it is that they have to convince to let them keep their licence fee! Seriously though based on this thread you are all seeing the bias that you want to see - so in reality they aren't biased.

makeourfuture · 01/06/2017 08:51

Interestingly, it was Laura K who tackled TM on her visit yesterday about not showing up for the debate

Well good.

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 08:54

piglet

Maybe Tory supporters just aren't as passionate as Labour supporters and couldn't find much to cheer about.

Corbyn does inspire people.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/06/2017 08:54

Piglet: the BBC said they had recruited people from across the political spectrum and 50/50 on Brexit. Why would they lie?

I haven't said they have lied. They didn't recruit them a polling company provided them.

I just repeated what a left leaning commentator said.

The whooping and clapping did get annoying as you couldn't hear what was being said.

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 08:55

The whooping and clapping did get annoying as you couldn't hear what was being said

Maybe there's nothing to clap about the Conservatives - even if you are a Conservative.

20nil · 01/06/2017 08:57

I thought it was great to see people really animated by political discussion.

Orlantina · 01/06/2017 08:57

The BBC

BBC News Press Team ✔ @BBCNewsPR
@georgeeaton The BBC asked polling company ComRes to pick audience that is representative of the country demographically and politically.
8:40 PM - 31 May 2017

TheMonkeyAndThePlywoodViolin · 01/06/2017 08:59

It's not Labours fault if their supporters are enthusiastic rather than being smug or sniping.

whoputthecatout · 01/06/2017 09:05

As a former BBC and Sky journalist I find the idea that news editors are either cravenly kowtowing towards the Tories or blindly adoring Corbyn (both at the same time) fascinating and depressing. It is so far from the reality in broadcast newsrooms.

So correct.

Another former journalist here. I can't help feeling that if members of the public had a chance to, for example, sit in a broadcast newsroom over the course of a week and see what really happens they might have a better understanding and form a more objective view.

Bias is subjective. Your personal view of the game depends to a great degree on where in the stands you are sitting (to use a sport analogy).

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/06/2017 09:15

It's not Labours fault if their supporters are enthusiastic rather than being smug or sniping.

In general or last night?

TheMonkeyAndThePlywoodViolin · 01/06/2017 09:15

Well i meant last night, but...

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/06/2017 09:23

Well i meant last night, but

Well it's just that the attacks and anti semetic abuse that Emma Barnet has had would suggest that both sides have a very nasty element.

Babbaganush · 01/06/2017 09:31

A BBC Trust investigation has confirmed Laura Kuenssberg report on Corbyn was inaccurate.

www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/18/bbc-trust-says-laura-kuenssberg-report-on-jeremy-corbyn-was-inaccurate-labour?CMP=share_btn_tw

HumphreyCobblers · 01/06/2017 09:36

Couldn't be more biased against Corbyn, could they?

My political inclinations make me tend to notice left wing bias but even I can see that the BBC really hates Corbyn.

Their anti brexit bias was similarly obvious. There was just such an underlying assumption that brexit was a disaster, in the same way they have an underlying assumption that Corbyn will be a disaster.

LadyGlitterSparklesSeriously · 01/06/2017 09:46

If I was a Conservative sitting in that audience I wouldn't be clapping. I'd be fucking furious she didn't turn up and left herself wide open to Corbyn pulling the ol' switcheroo on her. Amateurish.

With regards to the lots of clapping for everyone but Amber Rudd - well, five out of the seven parties have very similar views and policies. It's not wild to assume that there was some cross-party applause. 5 out of the 7 parties agree on a LOT.

StormTreader · 01/06/2017 10:09

I think SNP and Plaid Cymru both came out of that debate really well, the SNP guy in particular was very impressive and in control. If I lived in scotland, they would get my vote I think.

MaisyPops · 01/06/2017 10:14

5 out of the 7 parties agree on a LOT.
Exactly. There's a great deal of overlap in the centre and centre left.

If there was 1 centre left party then we'd be able to defeat the tories. Theresa May will get in vecasue the left is made up of multiple parties, not because people like her or her policies.