Friday, November 1, 2019

ITV betrays its viewers AGAIN by doing deal with the Tories and Labour to stitch-up the election - and BBC clearly plans to follow suit

I predicted a few days ago that the broadcasters would be tempted, if they thought they could get away with it, to yet again drive a coach and horses through the democratic process by agreeing to Boris Johnson's demand for TV leaders' debates that exclude all of the major parties apart from his own and Labour.  In my naivety, though, I assumed that once they'd reflected on it, they'd reluctantly accept it would be a dreadful look for them to do that, given the Liberal Democrats have been so close to level-pegging with Labour in recent months.  (And if the Liberal Democrats were included, they wouldn't dare exclude the SNP, who have far more MPs.)  But it seems ITV actually have no shame - they've announced a debate that will exclude all but two parties, albeit with others charitably allowed to have their say as quasi-pundits commenting on the main event.  This sends an unmistakeable message to viewers that two arbitrarily chosen parties should be regarded as the only credible contenders and that all the others are also-rans.

There's clearly a degree of coordination with the BBC in attempting to 'normalise' this outrageous decision.  An article on the BBC website that reads like a free ITV advert announces the "first head-to-head debate" of the campaign - words that are cynically intended to condition readers into believing that two-way debates are somehow natural in a multi-party democracy, and that it's also natural to expect more than one during the campaign.  No prizes for guessing what the BBC will be doing themselves.  Criticism of ITV's decision is absent from the article - distinctly odd in what is supposedly a 'news' report.

No, guys, this ain't normal, and no amount of spin and deception is ever going to make it look normal.  It's particularly unacceptable in Scotland, one of the constituent nations of the democracy ITV and the BBC nominally serve, and in which neither the Tories nor Labour are the largest party.  Doubtless, though, both broadcasters will continue to innocently express bafflement at the ongoing loss of trust in them from Scottish viewers.

61 comments:

  1. BBC Scotland doing a SNP vs plaid Cymru?

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  2. King Kong v Godzilla would be more intelectially stimulating.

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  3. So does this mean Scotland gets Ian Blackford v Fluffy? If not, why not?

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    Replies
    1. Because cruel sports have been banned.

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    2. Better with Blackford and Alister Jack - SNP Leader at Westminster and Secretary of State for Scotland.

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  4. STV should refuse to show the ITV programme in Scotland.

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    1. My feeling is that STV and the BBC should not be able to broadcast such a debate in Scotland at all. How can this hold up that the biggest party in Scotland - in terms of membership and elected representatives can be excluded from a televised debate (which is, in effect, a party political broadcast) which is shown in Scotland?

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    2. Of course they shouldn't, but this is Britain. England's two largest parties are what matter in the United Kingdom, because we are united and biggest knows best.

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    3. If the Establishment, which includes the media, thought they could get away with it the only representation the SNP would get would be a silhouette and 'words spoken by an actor '.

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    4. Roddy Collarless-ShirtNovember 2, 2019 at 10:41 AM

      Can I just say that Constantine Mudge would be excellent at that? He has a very wide repertoire.

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    5. My gratitude for your endorsement of my manifold talents is boundless.

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    6. Roddy Collarless-ShirtNovember 2, 2019 at 8:54 PM

      It's always good to mention people's name in the right places, isn't it?

      And I'd heard that you were 'resting', if only briefly.

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  5. The remainers including the Scottish Nats sis drove coach and horses through the result of the EU referendum. FASCISTS never accept the result of a democratic ballot they lose. Scottish Unionists are entitled to deny a Scottish referendum as the Jockos will not accept a losing result. Therefore no point in a referendum.

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    1. It is perfectly obvious to everyone on here that you have no real life friends, have never had a romantic or sexual relationship, have mental health/substance abuse issues and ache with unimaginable loneliness every single second of your day.

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    2. The puir potty-mouthed wee sowl ... fitting that his last two initials are WC.

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  6. Fair broadcasting is vital to a functioning democracy.
    Laura Keunnsberg turning a deef lug to Johnson's claim to be delivering NHS services free at the point of need..
    Prescription charges?
    Brewer, Preston, Keunnsberg will be hugely influential in the GE campaign.
    The national is vital to a balanced campaign in Scotland.

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    Replies
    1. The National is as balanced as a brickies labourer on a ladder with a hud over his shoulder.

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    2. GWC pumped his own maw.

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  7. Boris personally taking out Ruth 'savior of the union' Davidson.

    Tories campaigning on a ticket to break up the UK by putting a border down the Irish sea...

    Polls showing Yes in majority...

    Now ITV saying to Scots 'In the UK you can only choose between Diane Abbot levels of bumbling incompetence or right wing racist Eton wankstain'.

    It's like Christmas come early.

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    1. We just need the eton wankstain to announce on telly he'll be personally denying the sweat socks their iref, just like he's making sure all the UK nations get the deal they want except for the jock scum.

      We could be independent by hogmanay.

      UK truly is the gift that keeps on giving right now for indy.

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    2. Would that be Diane Abbot who hated and wanted to ban private schools and sent her daughter to one because she could not find a suitable public school? And yet the voter stood by her in her ethnically mixed black working class constituency. The voter is an enigma.

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    3. To be fair, lots of people have opinions that change when it comes time to do it themselves. Lots of eco veggie eating anti nuke organic grown only patents TRY cloth diapers but end up with disposable. Two days babysitting and plastic straws are pretty cool.

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  8. Skier, are you like Jeremy with the gift of the Marxist Comradely gab who has the women drappin their drawers in awe. Reminds me of a former Scottish Marxist who had the women wettin their panties on sight of him.

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  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50269158

    Former Labour MSP Anne McTaggart quits party and joins SNP

    ...She said: "I really want to be part of something positive. Labour hasn't done anything positive of note for a long time in Glasgow.

    "Meanwhile, I've watched the SNP delivering positive policies, at a national and a city level, which are the right ones for my community."

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    Replies
    1. Looking after her personal salary rather than social conscience perhaps.

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  10. Thank the Lord for Netflix, ignoring ITV and the BBC has never been easier.

    I would imagine Swinson is a bit peeved. You would think the Electoral Commission would weigh in here. The BBC is always disparaging when the likes of Putin freezes out rivals.

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    1. Swinson could stroke my nipple with a raspberry ripple.

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  11. GWC sleeps with his hand on his bum everynight! Imagining it was a lady!

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    1. I prefer a female Scottish Nationalist sucking my boabie although the Scottish men girlie's do a good job in lieu.

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    2. I thought you said you were a lesbian. Or am I mixing you up with a different GWC? You are Cordelia, aren't you?

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  12. It is surely time to take a stand against the broadcasters.
    But how?

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  13. There is no way that the British establishment will allow the SNP a high profile platform like a televised leaders' debate. They remember what happened in 2015. They won't make that mistake again. Not going to happen.

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  14. I've sent a complaint into ITV - viewerservices@itv.com

    Someone said fair broadcasting is vital to a functioning democracy. We must do something about this !

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    Replies
    1. I watched the Guns of Navarone on ITV last week and not one person was wearing a poppy. The lack of respect disgusts me.

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  15. I have a vision for a alternative - James Kelly & John Curtice go head-to-head in

    "Fight For The Right To Be A Knight".

    Either it's the new Bake Off or I'm running ahead of public opinion.

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  16. Someone the other day said Jess Philips was playing a blinder in Parliament. I thought it was a kind of musical instrument.

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  17. Sturgeon is 'obsessed with independence' it seems.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-50266993

    Nicola Sturgeon: Independence within 'touching distance'

    Nicola Sturgeon has claimed independence is "within touching distance" ahead of a speech to supporters at a major rally in Glasgow.

    She will ask for powers to hold another a referendum on Scotland's future in the UK shortly after next month's general election.

    However Jeremy Corbyn said a new Scottish independence poll was not "desirable or necessary".


    Out of interest, if you don't live in Scotland, how do you know what's best for it? It's tory levels of arrogance to to think you do.

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  18. Survation poll shows that Tories (on 45%) lead Labour (34%) and BxP (13%) in WORKINGTON. Sign o the times.

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  19. Just playing devil's advocate, what about the Brexit Party? As a matter of democratic principle, should they not get a place as well? They may not win any seats but will probably get more votes than the SNP (10% of votes in England is more than 45% of votes in Scotland).

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    1. Do they have any current representation in the HoC?

      I'd be up for it though. Farage was instrumental in securing a whopping win for remain in Scotland.

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  20. I see the Labour party has kicked off their Scottish campaign by suggesting people spray bleach in women's rights activists faces.

    You can appreciate why Anne McTaggart jumped ship.

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    1. I dunno. She seems to have good cause.

      https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/man-who-admitted-assaulting-pregnant-20764645.amp?__twitter_impression=true

      Man who admitted assaulting pregnant woman was approved as Labour candidate

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  21. The way to get their attention is to write to their advertisers. Threaten to boycot their products and the pressure will pile up.

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    1. What about the workers jobs you middle class git.

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    2. That's true. The working class broadcasters of STV don't deserve to suffer because of this.

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    3. Not many workers, it's all computerised.

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    4. It was the advertisers!

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  22. Well done South Africa.

    TBH, I had no idea the game was on, but the BBC insisted on making me aware of it. So I followed proceedings and the best team kicked some ass with ease.

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    1. Not really bothered about rugby.

      But I understand that the result helped us dodge several bullet(in)s.

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    2. Sky was forced to cover the rally in Glasgow. If the Mother Country had won we'd have had Adele, Prince Harry, Jim Nick-Nick Davidson and Nigel Farage orgasming in glory and not a word about Glasgow.

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  23. Today's Swinsonisms:
    vorbrant (vibrant)
    Wenzdye (Wednesday)
    gawly (girly)

    I love "vorbrant" and might start saying it.

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  24. I notice as early as August polling had the DUP losing at least one seat to the neutral + remainer Alliance.

    https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/northernireland.html

    The lack of a DUP/UUP alliance could well see them lose another, meaning the remain parties win a majority of votes and seats this time.

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    1. Remain vote surging there certainly.

      https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/poll-65-of-voters-in-northern-ireland-believe-brexit-makes-irish-unity-more-likely-within-ten-years-38635481.html

      Poll: 65% of voters in Northern Ireland believe Brexit makes Irish unity more likely within ten years

      Nearly two thirds of voters in Northern Ireland believe Brexit will make a united Ireland more likely within the next ten years, according to a new poll.



      The findings of LucidTalk's Northern Ireland-wide 'Tracker' poll for October were reported in the Sunday Times.

      It also found a significant increase in the number of Northern Ireland voters who would back remain if given the chance in a second EU Referendum.

      It found that around 72%, excluding don't knows, would vote to remain over accepting Boris Johnson's Brexit withdrawal agreement...


      England's brexit is smashing the union. It's a great British wrecking ball.

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    2. The Trump intervention was timely as he knows the EU are a waste of public money and business drives economies. Farage will have to do a deal with Boris the Bold if he wants brexit. Corbyn will get a slot on RT along with Eck and Gorgeous. Knickerless will be on one of those cheap jewellery channels with Lulu.

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  25. What's worse is neither of these parties even stand in Northern Ireland - they are continually disenfranchised

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    1. Who? Northern Ireland or the parties?

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  26. I noticed this blog had 58 comments, exactly the same number as the previous one, so this message from me will push the number up to 59 which is 1 higher.

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