Did a shocking conflict of interest push Margaret Hodge’s attack on Corbyn up the BBC news agenda?
.
Look at the state of this: When Margaret Hodge launched her vile attack on Jeremy Corbyn, claiming against all the evidence that he was a “f***ing anti-Semite”, she knew she could be sure of good news coverage – because it seems her daughter is Lizzi Watson, deputy editor of BBC News at 6 and 10.
It follows that other news stories such as the Daily Mail smear alleging Mr Corbyn went to a cemetery and laid a wreath for terrorists (in fact, none of the terror suspects named by that hack-rag were buried in that site) would also receive strong coverage, on the insistence of a person with such a strong connection with the issue.
It also follows that stories that do not fit the anti-Corbyn agenda would be suppressed. So those of us who are fighting false allegations of anti-Semitism (please see my JustGiving page for details of my own case).
This tweet puts it very well:
Margaret Hodge’s daughter, Lizzi Watson, is Deputy Editor of BBC News programmes
Over the last few weeks she has had some very difficult decisions to make… pic.twitter.com/Ujha9dYPrO
— Socialist Voice (@SocialistVoice) August 20, 2018
In the name of balance, it should be noted that the BBC does have a policy under which employees must report any conflict of interest arising from family connections. We have no evidence to suggest that this was followed, as the BBC is refusing to admit any connection between Ms Watson and Margaret Hodge.
Oh, and you see that other story, about Saudi Arabia bombing a school bus in Yemen? Consider this:
Astonishing graphic from @CNN, identifying civilian massacres in Yemen with the bomb makers – Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. This should be standard in war reporting. Searing images. https://t.co/EZqkSsAri6 pic.twitter.com/NWJvPuN7ct
— Tim Shorrock (@TimothyS) August 18, 2018
The school bus was in Saada, where the bomb makers included Lockheed Martin. A major shareholder in Lockheed Martin is Capital Group, and a senior executive of that company is none other than Philip May, husband of the UK’s Conservative Prime Minister, Theresa May.
Wouldn’t it have been better for the TV news to ignore the lie about the Labour leader and discuss the UK Prime Minister’s actual connection to the bombing of a school bus?
Not if you’re Lizzi Watson, it seems.
Visit our JustGiving page to help Vox Political’s Mike Sivier fight anti-Semitism libels in court
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Lets get this lizzi watsons face all over f/b, come on corbyn fans lets start fighting back against these tory TWATS!!!!
This is par for the course……what else did we/you expect ? Thus the UK you know not Finland !!!
Interesting response for an FOI request regarding Lizzie Watson
https://nyebevannews.co.uk/lizzi-watson-is-an-editor-for-bbc-news-at-6-at-10-is-she-margaret-hodges-daughter-the-bbc-refuse-to-say/
Yes, I was referring to it in the article.
It is evasion, nothing less.
“In the name of balance, it should be noted that the BBC does have a policy under which employees must report any conflict of interest arising from family connections. We have no evidence to suggest that this was followed, as the BBC is refusing to admit any connection between Ms Watson and Margaret Hodge.”
So you don’t actually have any evidence that the policy wasn’t followed, either?
When one of the most senior Labour MPs – a former minister and former chair of the PAC – attacks the party leader as she does, you’d expect it to be news. When the issue is anti-Semitism – very much a live issue in the party – and that MP happens to be Jewish, you really would expect it to be news.
And when her complaint happens to be nonsense, one would expect it to be reported as such, and the matter relegated to a lower place in the running order. It was not.
Jesus..like the BBC haven’t done enough to smear Corbyn’s name do they think its okay to use a family member to do their dirty work…how low can they get…
“it should be noted that the BBC does have a policy under which employees must report any conflict of interest arising from family connections. We have no evidence to suggest that this was followed”
So you don’t actually have any evidence to suggest that it wasn’t followed, either?
Yes: The fact that the attacks on Jeremy Corbyn have been well up the BBC’s news agenda.