To think BBC news is lost to us now - bloody Farage on this morning

[pinotnow]

Why is he being platformed yet again to repeat the surely libellous and undoubtedly inflammatory language about KS and JP spouting from Elon Musk. Saying it's free speech?! Just irresponsible and vile. Even the way he refers to the PM as Starmer is just so rude and disrespectful.

I'm a massive supporter of the BBC and the licence fee but the news branch has clearly been infested with Tory supporters in high places and it's just not what it was now.

It's reputation and standing is being shredded😓.

Media does, but it is considered unparliamentary for an elected member to not use their full name/ or title. If he said 'The PM' that would be fine. He knows the rules and etiquette and would hate if other MPs called him 'Farage,' instead of 'the honourable member for Clacton'.

He is trying to stir (obviously).

Yes, I have no idea who she is going on about.

They have to have him on for balance, can you imagine the furore in reverse if he wasn't allowed on

I'd be quite interested to hear what the Green Party have to say on the matter but a quick Google suggests they've not said anything to anyone and don't appear to have any position on it. Perhaps because it was only happening to non -men?

From the BBC News front page it looks like Wes Streeting was given the right of reply so the BBC are trying to be balanced this morning.

I don't disagree with you that he was probably given more airtime than warranted prior to being an MP, I suspect he brought in ratings and was always easy to book and appear on whatever programme at short notice as most self promoting people are.

He's also good (most of the time) at reading the room in terms of growing public sentiment which isn't the same thing as conviction politics or being genuine but a lot of people feel like they don't have a voice so are willing to let Farage do the talking whether he means it or not.

Yet I've repeatedly said he shouldn't be shut down completely.

You say Farage and then accuse him of disrespect for calling Starmer Starmer.

It's this ridiculous 'shut it down' attitude that will lead to him being the next prime minister.

It can’t only be news you agree with OP. It’s called democracy that we all have a choice , the BBC is promoting that

The Greens are a fringe party, why would the BBC give airtime to them - they got less than 2 million votes? I think because there is a political vacuum at the moment is the reason why Farage gets airtime. You can't deny he's eloquent and has energy. That and his friendship with Musk and Trump surely makes him a more interesting interviewee that the leader of the Greens?

You are falling into the fallacy of tolerance here.

A lot of the time, challenging views and giving proper airtime to a range of views is absolutely the right way to go.

But, some speakers are deliberately using their platform to stir up hate and drive division. Using their time to spread disinformation. Those people do not need to be given the same airtime as people who are genuinely debating, but have a different political view.

Tolerating intolerance has historically led to intolerance taking hold.

Also, free speech is the qualified right in the US (not something covered in UK law, except in references to the European Convention on Human Rights) for private citizens to give their opinions about the government without facing consequences. It allows the media (in the US) to scrutinised US politicians and governments.

It does not mean, anyone can say what they want without consequence.

It also is not something that exists in the same legislative way in the UK.

Reform is a business, not a party.

So bored of him. Yes to free speech, but free speech for all. Where are the Greens, the LibDems, the DUP, the SNP and all the other parties who represent voters in the UK?

When was Farage last interviewed on BBC then OP?

Give me the facts then I can judge whether he is on disproportionately or not compared with other political leaders.

I suspect its just more often than YOU would like?

But, some speakers are deliberately using their platform to stir up hate and drive division

Like when the PM called everyone upset about the murder of 3 young girls 'racists'?

Alan Johnson summed things up best. It’s all well and good championing free speech but truth is more important.

I agree OP. BBC News used to be good but it became too Tory. They never bothered to hold the Tories to account when they were in power and didn't bother to report the negative effects of the Tories' useless Brexit fiasco. ITV News is better.

Same?! I assume KS is Keir Starmer but not sure who JP is.....?

That is not what happened. So you are proving my point by using hyperbolic statements and simplification to continue pushing a false narrative.

People were (rightly) horrified by the murder of three young girls.

Some people used their murder as an opportunity to stor up racial tensions and violence on social media. Spreading false rumors and calling for violent action against entirely uninvolved individuals.

Those people who hijacked an awful tragedy, and genuine worry and concern amongst many about how to protect young girls from violence. Those people were called out.

Even the way he refers to the PM as Starmer is just so rude and disrespectful.
And yet look at your own title. Pot, kettle, black. You couldn't even be bothered to type some of the names out in full and used only initials. You really think that's any better?

We should hear everyone's voices. That is a part of democracy.

Jess Philips. She is a junior minister in the Home Office, but fairly prominent Labour MP. Musk called for her to be locked up, because back in October her department/ team asked Oldham to set up an independent enquiry - in exactly the same way as other councils have - to look into the handling of victims of grooming gangs and what could have been done to stop these horrific crimes earlier.

I don't think they can avoid him now unfortunately, can you imagine the field day he'd have with "the BBC refused to have me on even though I'm an MP"

The Coutts stuff was bad enough, someone lost their entire lifetime career because he was too poor to meet their requirements. And of course it was a woman who was scapegoated and had to be the fall guy.

But, some speakers are deliberately using their platform to stir up hate and drive division. Using their time to spread disinformation. Those people do not need to be given the same airtime as people who are genuinely debating, but have a different political view

I'm 67. Heard and seen more political interviews, speeches and broadcasts than I can remember over all my adult years.

I'm intrigued by how you can differentiate between one and the other. They ALL spread disinformation (spin), all political parties are guilty of spreading hate (calling Tories Scum for example) and as for division..........

They are honestly all as bad as each other. All.

The OP is not (I would presume, you never can quite tell on MN! I'm sure the mods can confirm though) an elected member of parliament.

14 million votes? That's a large enough chunk of the UK

If he doesn’t get air time that will be used by him and those that like him that his being side lined and silenced and not respected yadda yadda.

Most reform followers are probably not watching bbc news either tbh, In fact a lot of under 35’s just don’t even have tv licenses so won’t be watching anything bbc.

Do the Green Party representatives have an opinion on the mass rape of children? If so, I’d be interested to hear it.