BBC is pathologically hostile to most British institutions

The Guardian ^ | 7/27/03 | Lord Black

[DPB101]

Full text of Telegraph group owner Lord Black's letter, published in Saturday's Daily Telegraph

Janet Daley and Eoghan Harris's exposés of the BBC and Boris Johnson's whitewash of it (Opinion, July 23, July 23 and July 24), highlight the greatest problem raised by the current controversy.

The BBC is pathologically hostile to the government and official opposition, most British institutions, American policy in almost every field, Israel, moderation in Ireland, all western religions, and most manifestations of the free market economy.

It benefits from an iniquitous tax, abuses its position commercially, has shredded its formal obligation to separate comment from reporting in all political areas, to provide variety of comment, and is poisoning the well of public policy debate in the UK.

It is a virulent culture of bias. Though its best programming in non-political areas is distinguished, sadly it has become the greatest menace facing the country it was founded to serve and inform.

It isn't just at war with the government; it is attempting to take over the formation of public opinion and is masquerading as the officially persecuted voice of truth against the government. Alastair Campbell's excesses have facilitated this pretence. But he, at least, has been doing his job, and promoting Tony Blair's interests.

It is not the BBC's function to assassinate the truth about the Iraq war. From Jeremy Paxman's insolent question of the prime minister: "Do you pray with" President Bush, to the mouthy challenges to British military spokesmen at Iraq war press briefings, the BBC's only interest seems to have been to destroy and supplant the government as a source of authority in the country.

It must not succeed and the Conservatives should not assist it. Neither the government nor the BBC killed Dr Kelly. To everyone's sorrow, Dr Kelly himself did.

We don't know how many journalists he spoke to, but he should have been more careful when doing so. In the circumstances, the government's curiosity about his identity and what he said to the press is, on the face of it, excusable. Andrew Gilligan's apparent exaggerations of what he said to him are inexcusable.

Where Boris Johnson and the Tories go badly wrong is they don't recognise the present news and public affairs service of the BBC as a greater enemy to all they believe in than the government. And they mistakenly imagine that in legitimising the BBC's assault on the Iraq war, they can gain ground against the government while preserving their record of support for the war. They are in danger of becoming useful idiots.

There is not the slightest evidence that the prime minister deliberately misled the country, but if he is to counter this assault from the BBC, he will have to clear out those in his entourage who are tainted and he should use his office to expose the BBC for the rogue and putschist organisation it has become.

The Conservatives have the same duty to put country ahead of party - and resist the BBC's usurpation, of which they would be as much the victims as the government - that they bravely displayed in the Iraq debate.

[swilhelm73]

Exactly what I was saying yesterday.

The Tories are *really* trying to become the the British Stupid Party...or would that be remain the Stupid Party?

[PianoMan]

Sweeeeeeet!

[Drango]

BBC NPR is pathologically hostile to the government and official opposition, most British institutions, American policy in almost every field, Israel, moderation in Ireland, all western religions, and most manifestations of the free market economy.

[demlosers]

The BBC is pathologically hostile to the government and official opposition, most British institutions, American policy in almost every field, Israel, moderation in Ireland, all western religions, and most manifestations of the free market economy.

Nice summation. Who are these people?

[Savage Beast]

GUESS WHAT:

The ENTIRE AMERICAN "MAINSTREAM NEWSMEDIA" is pathologically hostile to the government, most American institutions, American policy in almost every field, Israel, moderation in general, all western religions, and most manifestations of the free market economy.

AND:

It is a virulent culture of bias, and sadly it has become the greatest menace facing the country it was founded to serve and inform.

[Paleo Conservative]

I can't believe this is an editorial in The Guardian.

[cpdiii]

In the past I have lived in Britain and many other countries.

When in a third world country I would tune into the BBC World Service to hear the news. When I
heard the words, "This is London" I knew a balanced a fair analysis of world events would follow these
words. I listened to these words in South America, Africa and the Middle East. I knew the words were
analysis without bias. Sadly to say the Grundig radio now sits silent. The words following "This is
London" are no longer without bias. I would like to turn my radio on again! When BBC World Service is of the same standard as in the past, I will turn my radio on again.

[McGavin999]

Excellent! It's time someone said this. The Tories have been foolish in this. They really DO need new leadership, IDS just isn't up to the task.

[Carthago delenda est]

C'mon, fess up. This isn't really from the Guardian, is it?

[DPB101]

Isn't it strange how elites, especially those funded by the government, turn on the people.

[livius]

This really says it all! And yes, the Tories are acting like idiots.

[expatpat]

It's an advertisement in the Guardian, not an editorial.

[Pikamax]

nope "... Full text of Telegraph group owner Lord Black's letter, published in Saturday's Daily Telegraph "

and there is some followup response by the guardian but the URL doesn't work.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9115,1007287,00.html

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

BBC NPR is pathologically hostile to the government and official opposition . . .

If you think NPR is hostile to both the Republicans and the Democrats equally (I'll grant you they'd go for a greenie over either, but . . .) I don't think you've been paying attention.

[Exit148]

To your #8, I hear you! When I've been overseas and had my trusty short-wave, it was the BBC that I turned to and trusted. It seems so strange to have this new view of them!

[Paleo Conservative]

It's an advertisement in the Guardian, not an editorial.

Thanks for the clarification. Sometimes the context of articles posted on Free Republic is lost when the original formatting is removed. It is difficult even on the Guardian website to tell that it is a paid ad. I'm sure than in the printed version of the Guardian, it would be rather easy to tell based on the difference in typefaces.

[Timesink]

Schadenfreude

This is the New York Times BBC Schadenfreude Ping List. Freepmail me to be added or dropped.

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[lainde]

ping!

[Jim Noble]

NPR is pathologically hostile to the government and official opposition, most British institutions, American policy in almost every field, Israel, moderation in Ireland, all western religions, and most manifestations of the free market economy

Yeah, but where else can you get multiple reports per week about how wonderful things are in Cuba?