Dear Editor,
Please can you reassure me?
I was reading Alastair Campbell’s diary this week in the New European (now re-named the New World) and I came across this snippet concerning the BBC;
“The refrain of a very senior BBC executive is that the Beeb must ‘shed its woke image and reflect the populist anger of our times’ ”.
Now, I assumed he was sharing a little media gossip rather than relaying the BBC’s new policy. But then followed an article in The Times on June 10, the title of which was,
“The BBC wants to woo Reform voters”.
Surely not, I thought, but the article went on to say that
‘the BBC is drawing up plans to appeal to Reform voters with news and drama output after identifying “low trust issues” with Nigel Farage’s supporters.’
The Telegraph and Byline Times have also covered the story as have many on social media.
Can it be true? Reform UK is a populist party which is popular at the moment. The polls suggest the party of five MPs could form the next government – so is this the BBC doing its bit to help them reach No. 10? I mean, which political party wouldn’t want the national broadcaster backing it from now until the election in four years’ time?
I was under the impression that the BBC’s mandate was to be independent and impartial. Naturally, it broadcasts a range of views in its programming, but it must do so whilst displaying no bias and do so impartially without under-representing significant viewpoints.
I would have thought that Mr Farage’s numerous appearances on Question Time might have filled his party’s quota when it comes to political propaganda, but apparently not.
I’d just like to say that MY trust in the BBC has significantly diminished, and friends of mine feel the same way. When can we get our own programmes, please, Mr Davie?
But I cannot finish on a flippant note. This is not funny, this is not right – this is giving into populism, nay, emboldening and embedding it in British daily life. The BBC needs taking to task over this; we must all make sure the corporation is reminded of the terms of its charter. We can see all too clearly, all too frequently, how populism takes on democracy and kills it. We need truth, honesty and proper scrutiny – that’s what the BBC is there for, surely?
K Fox
Somerset
