Former Blair Minister Urges Truce with BBC

IMDB.com ^ | 7-30-03

[Paul Atreides]

Robin Cook, who resigned as leader of the House of Commons in March over Tony Blair's policies on Iraq, has called on the government to call off its "jihad" on the BBC. Writing in today's (Wednesday) London Independent, Cook observed that the Labor government appears to have aligned itself with conservative newspapers against the public broadcaster. "In my more suspicious moments, I wonder whether Number 10 does not regard those papers as too powerful to take on, but regards the BBC as weak enough to bully." Suggesting that the attack on the BBC may be "a classic diversionary tactic" to call attention away from the probe into whether the Blair government had in fact exaggerated claims about the ability of Saddam Hussein to employ weapons of mass destruction against the West, Cook proposed a truce. "A government victory over the BBC is an appalling prospect, as it could only be secured on terms that would undermine the independence and authority of public-service broadcasting," he concluded.

[facedown]

"A government victory over the BBC is an appalling prospect, as it could only be secured on terms that would undermine the independence and authority of public-service broadcasting," he concluded.

Yeah, like they're on such firm ground now.

[gulfcoast6]

Could it be that Cook expects his little world to backfire?

[Frank_Discussion]

Hanging by one's finger at the ledge of the political cliff, Mister Cook? I think you just accused Mister Blair of "wagging the dog", as it were. You can't back it up, bucko.

[jagrmeister]

The value of Cook's word and the Indpendent's credibility is the same: nil. The BBC used inside government sources to leak information in order to justify their anti-war biases. Turns out that source did not have the access to the most confidential information and therefore his leaks couldn't even be trusted (not to mention, BBC's indiscretions may have led to his suicide). It was a digusting affair of media corruption and bias that should force the defunding of the BBC.

[Bonaparte]

The BBC is not "independent." Nor does it have "authority." The BBC is supported by the British taxpayers and is answerable to their elected representatives, such as Tony Blair. In theory, BBC ccommunistss commentators are supposed to be held to minimum journalistic standards.

[af_vet_1981]

It seems that Cook, having resigned from the government, is trying his hand at comedy. Judging by my own reaction I would say he is good for some laughs.

[Malesherbes]

Perhaps Cook's ex-wife is not the most unbiased source, but according to her, he's a mean drunk.