BBC Question Time drops Lib Dems (again)

The BBC need to start listening to their viewers and stop fobbing them and the Liberal Democrats off with pathetic excuses about balance.

This week, for the third time out of the last four, there will be no Liberal Democrat Parliamentarian on BBC Question Time.

Some weeks back they dropped Jo Swinson MP, then on the week Iraq was discussed, they dropped Sir Menzies Campbell MP - so it was down to the Conservatives to defend their record and yet, it was the Liberal Democrats who voted against the Iraq war, not Labour, nor Cameron's Conservatives.

When I recently complained (as did hundreds of others), I got the same response as shown below and discussed in greater detail on Lib Dem Voice.

“The Liberal Democrats like all parties get representation based on their level of electoral support, which means they are on most – but not all – ‘Question Time’ panels across each series. We believe it adds to the breadth of debate to have perspectives from politicians and non-politicians alike, so places are always limited even within a five-person panel.”

Since when did one show in four back that pathetic response from Gavin Allen?  If you want to see the full text of the email that everyone who complained received then you can read it here.

So, Gavin Allen obviously does not give a rats tail about what Lib Dem voters who watch the BBC think.

If like me, you are fed up of the BBC Question Time team ignoring the Liberal Democrats then;

Step 1: Contact the BBC about it.


Step 2: Spread the word to your friends. Suggest they do it – mention it on your facebook and twitter

Step 3: Write a blog post

BNP or Jan Moir - is there a difference?

I have been wondering what I felt about the BNP being on BBC Question Time versus Jan Moir's column in the Daily Mail, both wind me up no end but in slightly different ways.

I do think that the BNP's elected Parliamentarians should get a slot on occasion on shows such as Question Time, but the percentage of times they appear should be in proportion to where they come in the political spectrum.

I believe in free speech and given that often the BNP end up with their abhorrent views coming out in the open it is worth it - but seriously in our democracy we have to accept that people have elected the BNP candidates so they have to have the opportunity to then participate in public debate.

However, the broadcaster or the print media has to accept if the BNP person spouts out racist, homophobic or sexist stuff the plus has to be pulled!

So, you may ask why was I so angry with Jan Moir's column in the Daily Mail?

Again, I stand by my free speech stance, but as I said at the time, she was out of order and she knew full well that she was whipping up hysteria with homophobic language, otherwise why did the Daily Mail have to remove the online advertising from the online column?

I was also upset about the timing of the column, Jan Moir had no respect for the family, partner and friends of Stephen Gately by publishing not only the content but the innuendo and she could well have left it until after the funeral.

I don't agree with those people who are calling for her to be fired, but I do think she get a proper disciplinary at the Daily Mail, I also hope the Press Complaints Commission deal with this properly and don't just brush it under the carpet!