Do you believe the BBC has an inherent left wing bias?

[Dr Jekyll]

DonkeyApple said:

Er, first line, bit mental. Second line, where did I say this?

Where you said being left wing means believing in fair play and ethics.

[DonkeyApple]

Dr Jekyll said:

Where you said being left wing means believing in fair play and ethics.

Other way around. Which gives it totally different context.

[don4l]

Countdown said:

What does "left-wing" mean ?

As far as I can see, "Left Wing" people seem to believe that I should work for the money that they spend.

They also seem to believe that I have an inexhaustable supply of money. Furthermore, some of them are so utterly deluded that they think that I will continue to work even if the government gives them 97% of my earnings.

In essence, "Left Wing" means "Thick, idle, and envious".

Crankedup, would you like to correct me?

Don
--

[rah1888]

After Labour won the general election in 1997:

BBC Radio 5Live's Jane Garvey said:

The corridors of Broadcasting House were strewn with empty champagne bottles, there was always the suggestion that the BBC was full of pinkos who couldn't wait for Labour to get back into power. That may have been the case.

Not exactly an impartial position.

[Johnnytheboy]

I've said it before but anyway... I firmly believe the BBC's news wing try very hard to be neutral, but they report the same news agenda as the Guardian and the Independent, because that's the paper most of their staff take.

[crosseyedlion]

don4l said:

As far as I can see, "Left Wing" people seem to believe that I should work for the money that they spend.

They also seem to believe that I have an inexhaustable supply of money. Furthermore, some of them are so utterly deluded that they think that I will continue to work even if the government gives them 97% of my earnings.

In essence, "Left Wing" means "Thick, idle, and envious".

Crankedup, would you like to correct me?

Don
--

Spot on.

[elster]

Mark Thompson and New Statesman agree with the left wing bias

http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/09/le...

[rah1888]

elster said:

Mark Thompson and New Statesman agree with the left wing bias

http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/09/le...

Some of the comments disagree though.

Seriously, how left wing do your own views need to be to consider the BBC right wing? Unbelieveable.

[thinfourth2]

rah1888 said:

Some of the comments disagree though.

Seriously, how left wing do your own views need to be to consider the BBC right wing? Unbelieveable.

What ?

Are you saying that someone's own personnel viewpoint and bias would influence how they see bias in the world around them.

That's insane

[null]

thinfourth2 said:

Can we have an additional answer

yes i belive the BBC is left wing biased and i have done absolutely nothing about it other then bh on an internet forum about it and scream blue murder about the cost while paying my license fee like a good little sheeple and paying £50 a month for some total dross from Sky


Which will be the vast majority

Why isn't it enough to just have people acknowledge BBC bias? Why the need to slight 'the vast majority' for doing so?

[thinfourth2]

null said:

Why isn't it enough to just have people acknowledge BBC bias? Why the need to slight 'the vast majority' for doing so?

As not a week goes past without a oh my god the BBC are lefty bds and I hate paying for them.

Well if it bothers you so much go a fking do something about it rather then sat on your arse watching brainless st from the idiot box.

[null]

They are lefty bds (see poll results).

What legal recourse do you propose for someone wanting to watch content from another provider?

[grumbledoak]

Of course they are left wing. I've tried the Political Compass 'site a few times over the years and I'm way left of our main parties. But even I see the BBC as confirmed lefties. And don't forget that Blair stuffed the governing body with his Labour mates. Or that their pensions are dependent on 'Green' technologies that have to be subsidized by the taxpayer because they basically don't work.

Some good shows, but I avoid their news and current affairs. RT seems to show less bias, and that wasn't something I'd have expected to say, growing up during the Cold War as I did.

[JagLover]

I'm glad the question was left wing bias rather than merely pro-Labour bias, because it isn't particularly party political, it is that the BBC has its own world view it relentlessly propagates.

[AstonZagato]

I listen to the Today programme every morning. It is a fabulous programme that really sets the news agenda for the day. They have, I would suggest, a left-of-centre outlook but generally work hard to disguise this bias (though calling Jeremy Hunt, jeremy was probably a good indication of what they'd like to put out).

However their coverage of Cameron using the EU veto was shocking. So much so that I was shouting in incoherent rage at the radio - and I am moderately pro-Europe (in a free trade, freedom of movement kind of way). They lined up Europhile after Europhile to berate the government's position, asking soft questions of their stance, listening patiently to their answers, not trying to take any sort of contrary position.

Osbourne then comes on and they go for the jugular, not listening, trying to undermine his arguments, ignoring his points.

[Johnnytheboy]

AstonZagato said:

However their coverage of Cameron using the EU veto was shocking. So much so that I was shouting in incoherent rage at the radio - and I am moderately pro-Europe (in a free trade, freedom of movement kind of way). They lined up Europhile after Europhile to berate the government's position, asking soft questions of their stance, listening patiently to their answers, not trying to take any sort of contrary position.

The general tone of that morning's programme was the same as if a prominent member of the royal family had died. Lots of pregnant pauses and deep sighs, it really was dire.

[thinfourth2]

null said:

They are lefty bds (see poll

so if I went to treehuggerheads.com and asked if sportscars are causing global warming would you take the results of the poll as total proof?

[null]

Go for it.

[turbobloke]

thinfourth2 said:

null said:

They are lefty bds (see poll)

so if I went to treehuggerheads.com and asked if sportscars are causing global warming would you take the results of the poll as total proof?

No because treehuggers are clueless, everybody knows that

Formal proof isn't required. BBC bias to the political left is visible with eyes and audible with ears, if these and the minds to which they are attached remain open.

[anonymous-user]

Countdown said:

What does "left-wing" mean ?

They're the ones who want a more equitable society where everyone has access to quality healthcare and education and public services. They believe in a large state. They want to be like Sweden or Denmark where there is a high standard of living for most.

It's a big dilemma for the left of centre amongst us though is how do you have a utopia where everyone has access to free stuff without having well off (usually more right wing) people paying loads more tax to pay for it.

Like most posters probably, I wouldn't mind paying so much tax if more people were encouraged to contribute to society. Paying tax is fair enough if you live somewhere where you can see taxation leading to improvements. It's a bit depressing seeing so much taxation being wasted on people who can't be arsed getting a job and living off the state.

With regard to the BBC I don't mind that they have a liberal bias, even if it is largely funded by the taxpayer. The UK media is predominantly right wing, I'm happy the BBC helps balance this out a bit.