THE BBC does not appear to pay sufficient attention to its responsibility to report honestly on matters of importance or simply of interest to the public, which ultimately pays the bills. In my opinion this is particularly true of BBC Scotland.
The case has repeatedly been made of the anti-Scottish bias shown by BBC Scotland towards the independence movement supported by more than half of its viewers – a bias which is shown in many, many ways, all of which have frequently been brought to the attention of its controllers.
What has been requested but dismissed is a balanced report and comment on the subject. This has resulted in no enthusiastic change by BBC Scotland, nor by its national team which is totally biased and influenced quite obviously by its paymaster in Westminster.
READ MORE: The Queen to head royal 'charm offensive' to stop Scottish independence
The London scriptwriters of our mainstream national newspapers – including their Scottish outlets – and of the BBC are headlining the extraordinary circumstances of the famous Princess Diana interview of 1995, the outcome of which will be serious. If the reports are, for once, accurate, it does demonstrate the corruption, the unscrupulous behaviour for personal gain of the perpetrators, and of members of the elite Westminster tribe, some of whom are still around in greatly advanced positions. We shall see.
I would ask, however, what is the greater issue right now, today in Scotland, between the dishonesty of a “royal” 1995 interview and Westminster’s current actions concerning Scotland?
The Scottish Government was reconstituted in 1999, with powers agreed with Westminster enshrined in the devolution settlement, which the people of Scotland had every reason to believe would be observed by future national governments. The advent of the present Westminster administration has seen a constant and ongoing erosion of those powers without negotiation or even discussion between London and Edinburgh, on matters clearly the prerogative of Holyrood as defined in the agreement of the schedule of reserved matters which is bedrock to the devolution settlement.
READ MORE: Former BBC director-general resigns from National Gallery amid Dyson report fall-out
Actions of that kind are damaging to harmony between Westminster and Holyrood and could, with a willingness that is absent from the former, be avoided. The railway situation announced last week is the latest example.
On the question today as to the relative importance of a disgraceful occurrence in 1995 and an even more disgraceful series of occurrences in the increasingly strained relationships between Edinburgh and London, let there be no doubt as to which to Scotland is and will be more important. The BBC’s apparent determination to subordinate Scotland’s legitimate national concerns in favour of scandals dating from 1995 is not in any way acceptable.
J Hamilton
Bearsden
NOT unexpectedly, there has been huge outrage that the BBC should have been found wanting in its dealings with the royal family, and the fallout continues with recrimination and resignations.
However, it seems still more outrageous to me that this dishonesty is somehow considered more serious when involving the royal family, when the BBC has in fact repeatedly shown stunning disregard in its treatment of so many people and sections of society, who are considered to be less distinguished and somehow less worthy of respect or honesty.
READ MORE: Apologies from the BBC over Martin Bashir's Diana interview mess ring hollow
Right now, the corporation is bending over backwards to appear to be “learning lessons” and accepting blame. This is unusual. I am sure many of your readers who have complained to the BBC will be familiar with the bland letter from them “noting your concerns” and that is the end of the discussion.
There are many matters that perhaps Lord Dyson could investigate. I would like to share a list which I recently read, which claimed that, for a start, the following should be investigated:
- The BBC coverage of the miners' strike including Orgreave
- How the BBC systematically pushed the government's agenda to push austerity
- How the BBC has failed to properly inform as to the dangers of the climate crisis
- How the BBC systematically – and profoundly antidemocratically – smeared Jeremy Corbyn
- How the BBC has shown consistent bias against Scottish independence
- How the BBC effectively treats millions of poor people in the UK as invisible
- How the BBC reports as government policy dictates rather than truth as they see it, such as on Israel/Palestine or Saudi Arabia
- How the BBC is failing now to report properly on government corruption taking place on a huge scale and in plain sight.
BBC news should provide an honest, thorough and impartial service for everyone, not just the so-called elites.
Jane Phillips
Dundee
I NOTE that British swimmers have been highly successful in the recent European Swimming Championships held in Budapest.
It would appear from the BBC’s reporting of the championships that none of the swimmers have any connection to Scotland.
Perhaps the newly appointed Maree Todd MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, should consider ways of keeping the people in Scotland informed of the successes of their sports men and women.
READ MORE: Kathleen Dawson glad to be back on the podium following career-threatening injury
After all, does not the Prime Minister Boris Johnson have an “influence” on who is appointed to senior posts in the BBC? I would suggest it is not unreasonable to expect that the corporation, which is reeling from the Martin Bashir revelations, will follow the PM’s anti-Scottish policies.
To add insult to injury, people in Scotland are compelled by law to pay a “licence fee” – in reality a tax – to fund the BBC.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel