This tale of blatant BBC pro-Tory bias could bring tears to your eyes
The BBC prepares its impartial coverage of the 2017 General Election [Image: Sketchaganda].
But it isn’t my story. I hand you over to Vox Political reader Steve Fox:
I submitted a complaint to the BBC last week, after hearing blatant bias by Katia Adler on Radio 4. I couldn’t quite believe what I heard her say (it was almost subliminal) but the BBC response has now confirmed it, and their excuses are totally inadequate.
My complaint:
This morning, reporting on EU negotiations, Katia Adler asserted that EU leaders are hoping for a “strong” leader to emerge from the UK general election, and that when “she” does, negotiations will be better. Theresa May is the only “she” who might be elected. Does the BBC have some empirical evidence for asserting that “EU leaders” want her to win the election? I’m sure the BBC is aware that “strong and stable” is the campaign refrain of the Conservative Party. Is the BBC campaigning on their behalf? This is the second time I have heard Katia Adler make these claims. It doesn’t seem accidental, the bias is very clear. How can the BBC justify this dangerous distortion, misrepresentation and blatant favouritism as “news”?
This morning, reporting on EU negotiations, Katia Adler asserted that EU leaders are hoping for a “strong” leader to emerge from the UK general election, and that when “she” does, negotiations will be better.
Response from the BBC:
Thank you for contacting us to raise your concerns about Radio 4’s ‘Today’, broadcast on 27 April.
I understand you feel Katya Adler demonstrated bias in favour of Theresa May when reporting on a meeting of some of the European Union’s leading figures to discuss guidelines for the Brexit negotations.
I have reviewed the broadcast and note that Katya stated, “Behind closed doors in EU circles they are hoping that a very strong Prime Minister emerges from these elections in June; a strong Prime Minister who, however tough she may be in negotiations, will keep one line – won’t do U-turns, won’t be beholden to minority groups.”
While I appreciate how strongly you feel about this issue, we would explain that Katya was simply reporting her understanding, as European Editor, of the sentiments of leading European Union figures on this subject. Please be assured, all staff are expected to put any political views to one side when carrying out their work for the BBC; they simply try to provide the information and context on the story or issue using their professional insight to allow our listeners to make up their own minds.
Katya was simply reporting her understanding, as European Editor, of the sentiments of leading European Union figures on this subject.
The BBC has in place clear guidelines to ensure that political parties receive an appropriate level of coverage during an election period and our editors are required to follow them carefully.
The key point is that the BBC as an organisation has no view or position itself on anything we may report upon – our aim is to identify all significant views, and to test them rigorously and fairly on behalf of our audiences.
Nonetheless, I am sorry to read you do not feel we achieved our objective in this instance.
We appreciate your feedback on this issue and I have passed your comments forward on a report which will be read by senior BBC management and the ‘Today’ team.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Kind regards
Emma Duff
BBC Complaints Team
Oh, so she was saying the European Union’s top brass want Theresa May to win the general election – but that’s not going to sway anybody voting in a poll that the same Theresa May wants us to think is about Brexit?
Give us a break, BBC.
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Either that, or the tories are going to cheat again to get in.
Laura Kuenssberg is more tory bias than a North Korean News channel.
Laura Kuenssberg is totally biased against Brexit but the BBC never accept any complaints of bias against her no matter how blatant either.
[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/duff]
[Emma] Duff (2) 4. British informal
bad or useless, as by not working out or operating correctly; dud
Oh dear complaining to the BBC will get you no where they so far up the torys backside that complaint will just be rolled over
When I read the Independent’s coverage of this story, it appears that “she” is what the EU spokesman actually said. If that is right, then had Katia reported it as a quote, she would have been untouchable. But as it is, I agree entirely with your complaint.
There is a mischievous part of me that thinks we should be publicising loud and wide that the EU clearly wants Theresa in the chair, which proves that she must be bad for Brexit and good for the EU. Just think how that would mess with Brexiteers’ minds.
I suggest that when we return a decent Labour government we change the name of the BBC to CBC as it really is no more than the biased Conservative Broadcasting Company. We need a BBC which gives news without bias.
“Please be assured, all staff are expected to put any political views to one side when carrying out their work for the BBC”
RTFPMSL
These people have the cheek to talk about Democracy they don’t know the meaning of the word with there lies they have turned the country into one big cesspit where dog eats dog and greed is a way of life
She said: ” a strong Prime Minister who… won’t do U-turns…”
How on Earth can you interpret that to mean Theresa May?
“Behind closed doors in EU circles they are hoping that a very strong Prime Minister emerges from these elections in June; a strong Prime Minister who, however tough she may be in negotiations, will keep one line – won’t do U-turns, won’t be beholden to minority groups.”
See that line, “however tough SHE may be in negotiations” as the OP stated there is only one “she” in the race to be PM
The BBC is about as even handed as Captain Hook. I wouldn’t trust any news report form them without checking the facts elsewhere. The current affairs programmes are just as biased, but the BBC when I complained about the pro remain bias, the BBC does of course get some of its funding, our money, from Brussels, i was told the panels 2 remain 1 leave and a pro remain presenter were designed to be fair to both sides.
Complaining to the bbc is a complete waste of time,believe me ive tried.The standard response is how impartial they are etc,this is despite the fact that every news report is essentially a party political broadcast for the conservative party.I resent having to pay for this excuse for journalism and biased broadcasting.
Of course it’s bias and of course it’s not being publicised that they are the kuensberg lass doesn’t even seem 2 mind that she’s bias or the fact she’s been reported 4 the same.the problem I have with this is they can not be biased and that’s a fact so why is it they haven’t been suspended or is that b’cos thier bosses are Tory supporters that may sack them if they’re not bias towards the Tory party, I wonder why these rumours are still floating around in the BBC!
This should be taken to the next level, Effective from 3 April 2017, Ofcom becomes the BBC’s first external regulator.
As required under the BBC’s Royal Charter, Ofcom is developing an ‘Operating Framework’ for the BBC, covering regulation of the BBC’s performance, compliance with content standards and impact on competition.