THE lengths to which Unionists will take their Union Jackery never cease to amaze many of our readers – one of whom has pointed out a glaring example on BBC One.
Rob Gill told us it happened when he sat down to watch an episode of Escape to the Country earlier this week, where prospective buyers are shown properties that could potentially signal their escape from city life.
On this occasion the programme was visiting Dumfries and Galloway, and the BBC blurb for it read: “Sonali Shah visits spectacular Scotland, making her way to Dumfries and Galloway with a married couple from London who are seeking a life-changing move.
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“They’re hoping their £350,000 budget can buy a house for them with enough land for a retreat business.
“Sonali also visits an ethical dairy farm that has written a brand new rule book when it comes to animal welfare.”
The opening of the programme saw Shah walking down a country road and, in a shot to camera, saying: “For me, one of the things that puts the Great into Great Britain is this.”
Then, pointing ahead of her she continues: “That’s England, and that’s Scotland and I can quite literally walk across this bridge over the River Sark from one country into the other without the need for this,” while digging into her pocket and waving her passport.
“For today’s Escape to the Country, I’m going that way to Scotland into the epically beautiful Dumfries and Galloway.
“The average price of a detached home here is just over £193,000, which is around £77,000 less than you’ll pay across the rest of Scotland.”
Antoinette and David, the house-hunting couple from East Ham, in London, did find their dream property – the first one they were shown a few miles from the village of Glenluce, near Portpatrick.
What had formerly been two cottages had been transformed into a much larger detached home and at offers in the region of £325,000 it was within their budget, despite both of them estimating it at between £420,000-£450,000.
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While the programme left the couple preparing their final offer for the home, Gill was critical of the BBC’s bias.
He warned: “Even in a non-political programme, unrelated to anything other than house hunting the BBC (British Bull***t Corps) still manage to show their political Unionist credentials.
“We are going to see much more of this in the near future.”
Normally the broadcaster might be happy for any programme publicity, but a BBC spokesperson told The National: “We have nothing to add on this occasion.”
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