Woman's Hour now: BBC walking away from Stonewall

[nauticant]

Emma Barnett is asking the questions.

Ooh, this is a senior BBC guy explaining the reasoning and it's got what you would hope to hear. Emma Barnett is asking awkward questions.

BBC guy effectively says Stonewall hasn't really had an influence on the Corporation. Emma Barnett: "So why have you left?"

EB: "You must have thought something had happened to threaten that trust."

BBC drone: "No."

EB: "Shall I give you examples from the Nolan podcast?"

EB is pushing him - good to hear!

I missed the name of the guy - did you catch it?

He's in a real cleft stick here. Has to justify leaving the stonewall scheme and make it seem based on sound reasoning (to avoid tantrums by the TRAs) whilst also making out the BBC have always been completely impartial.

Emma Barnett is FIERCE. 💪

So they spent all that money and it didn't influence them at all? Huge waste of money and resources if that were true.

Emma Barnett is quite keen on asking about Ben Hunte. BBC drone: "I haven't seen it."

To be fair to Emma Barnett, now they’ve unshackled her she’s been awesome in this topic

Emma asking if, as presenter of Woman's Hour and Newsnight, she would be allowed to front a campaigning video by Oxfam or Amnesty.

I'd like her to ask if she could front a campaigning video by FairPlay For Women or LGBA

'Could we describe a trans woman as a biological male?'

BOOM.

@Lovelyricepudding his line seems to be it was all about internal policy not editorial policy? Which EB is still challenging, of course.

The interviewee is almost weeping

EB: "Could the BBC report a transwoman competing in the Olympics as biological male?"

BBC drone: waffle.

Emma Barnett has prepared really well for this interview.

Oof. Pregnant people.
Nice work Emma. He’s squirming like a squirmy thing.

The silence after the pregnant people question! Bloody hell.

This is getting awkward. Well done for asking the questions Emma!

Amazing Emma. She's on fire!

“What is fact and what is currently debate”. I would love to know what he puts in each of those categories…

Has someone put truth serum in Emma's tea?

Her tune is certainly changed.

He’s never going on again, is he? Totally flummoxed on how to answer. He sounds angry with Emma putting him on the spot. Wriggling out of providing a real answer.

waffle waffle waffle

EB: "Is the answer that we don't have a policy yet?"

Emma Barnett is asking the key question for BBC journalist which is why there's something of a rebellion going on: they know they're facing arbitrary rules where, if certain external pressure is applied to the BBC, will lead to journalists being punished.

@WinterTrees

I missed the name of the guy - did you catch it?

He's in a real cleft stick here. Has to justify leaving the stonewall scheme and make it seem based on sound reasoning (to avoid tantrums by the TRAs) whilst also making out the BBC have always been completely impartial.

Emma Barnett is FIERCE. 💪

He is called Rhodri Talfan Davies. He is Director of Nations. I assume that's to do with the BBC's different output across the UK.

Apparently it's a deeply complicated issue to state that only biological women can be pregnant!!!

Emma! 🥰 💪

Fabulous work , Emma Barnett. For Getting your teeth, sharp, sharp teeth, into this!