The make-up of the BBC‘s Question Time panel on 10 May left many viewers stunned. Along with work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, the panel included a former conservative politician from Spain, a campaign manager for a right-wing thinktank, and staunch Corbyn critic Chuka Umunna. And many felt the only voice of reason was rapper, poet and political activist Akala.
Stunned
Before the show went out, many took to Twitter to question the choice of panellists:
A record four Tories on the upcoming #BBCqt
Akala is pretty Left-Wing but apart from him they have the most Right-Wing Labour MP as well as three official Tories. pic.twitter.com/9Zcna135uI
— Pileus Media (@thepileus) May 9, 2018
Even by the BBC's pro-establishment standards, having four representatives of the capitalist class on Question Time (5 if you count Dimbleby) is a new low.#BBCQT pic.twitter.com/PxmT5lYGPA
— Richard 4 Deputy (@RB4Deputy) May 10, 2018
Viewers were concerned that, given the make-up of the panel, fair debate may be stifled:
https://twitter.com/mediaconspire/status/994649737566605313
Fair?
They had reason to be concerned.
In 2013, McVey defended the rise in use of food banks. She also said that benefits sanctions ‘teach’ job seekers to look for work seriously. And she cut the Disability Living Allowance, arguing that “bodies heal”.
Chloe Westley is campaign manager for the TaxPayers’ Alliance, a right-wing thinktank partly funded by “prominent supporters of the Conservative party”, reports the Guardian. Meanwhile, Alejandro Agag was formerly a conservative politician in Spain.
Representing the Labour Party was Umunna. The same Labour MP who recently called for an inquiry into Labour’s local election campaign, despite the fact that Labour secured more council seats than the Conservatives. A Labour MP who has continued to publicly criticise Corbyn and supports the values of Labour-right group Progress.
Agag: right wing, invited Blair to his wedding
McVey: right wing, consistently voted against gay rights
Westley: right wing, worked for Vote Leave & now Change Britain
Umunna: pro-austerity, asked how to avoid "trash" on a London night out
Akala: decent, caring, human#bbcqt pic.twitter.com/2c09Far1i8
— GET A GRIP (@docrussjackson) May 10, 2018
#ThursdayThoughts
It is 80% right-wing on #bbcqt this evening.
A right-wing Spanish politician to continue the BBC's bias against Catalunya.
Stain on humanity Esther McVey.
Progress wrecker of Labour Chukka Umunna.
Tax-Dodgers' Alliance.— John Traynor 🇾🇪(Ducksoap) (@Mr_JDTraynor) May 10, 2018
Many viewers took to Twitter to share their thoughts:
Blimey, last night's #bbcqt was a real tory love-in.
— Cyberbint (@SandPatterson) May 11, 2018
Every week same Anti labour questions & same grin from Dimbleby on #bbcqt It's no wonder the public feel there is bias because it just gives the Right the chance to abuse, that's not debate
— Maria D #ChosePeace (@Maria4CarmsEast) May 10, 2018
“The Incredible Bias of the BBC”
Craig Murray, former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, went a step further:
The Incredible Bias of the BBC – The right wing bias of BBC Question Time tonight staggers belief, even for the BBC. One Francoist, two Tories, the still more right wing Chukka Umunna, all "balanced" by Akala, who thankfully has more brains, and https://t.co/yDr3aEkFTl
— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) May 10, 2018
In his blog, Murray questioned:
Why is the BBC permitted, day after day after day, to pump out programming which actively promotes a political programme far to the right of where the British population actually stand? With the continual over-representation of nutty right wing groups like the Taxpayers’ Alliance… while left wing groups of much larger membership such as Stop the War are completely ignored.
Concerns about BBC bias are not new. But last night’s episode of Question Time tipped the balance even further. The star of the show was Akala. This straight-talking, eloquent rap artist was the only one to call out the right-wing bullshit. And, for many viewers, he was the best person on the show.
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