Complaints to the BBC and the prospect of a Judicial Review

Laura Kuenssberg interviewed Deputy Leader of Reform Richard Tice on Sunday. Kuenssberg pushed Tice on the Reform UK councillor who suggested “melting down Nigerians to fill pot holes”. Kuenssberg also pushed Tice on the astonishing private £5 million personal donation to Farage.

It is telling that Tice tried to dodge the questions.

During the interview, Richard Tice deflected criticism of Reform politicians by referring to the “anti-semitic Green Party”. Laura Kuenssberg ignored this and did not challenge it. Surely, when such offensive statements are made, the interviewer has a duty to challenge them and present the other side of the argument. I have complained to the BBC about this.

The Green Party have been called anti-semitic because they oppose the genocide and war crimes in Palestine. There is nothing anti-semitic about this. The many marches that have taken place calling for a Free Palestine are not hate marches and always include big contingents of Jewish people. To call the only political party in the UK with a Jewish leader “anti-semitic” is beyond the pale.

Richard Tice again referred to ‘Net Stupid Zero’ and, as always, the BBC said nothing about the consequences of that Reform UK policy. Unless the rich nations step up their commitment to replace fossil fuel use as soon as possible, we face climate tipping points such as the collapse of AMOC, leading to the collapse of our society and the death of billions of people.

You can see the interview here.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/26342046342157231

I have also complained about BBC Radio 4’s coverage of the Local Election campaigns.

BBC Radio 4 (and no doubt other stations) has been negligent in its lack of questioning of politicians on the climate catastrophe and the imminent threat of tipping points, such as the collapse of AMOC.

In the week preceding the May 7 election, Today interviewers didn’t ask party spokespeople questions about climate change, in spite of the fact that in the months leading up to the election the London School of Economics had published several reports on the fact that climate change will ‘hammer incomes and government budgets’ and that ‘climate change impacts are intensifying, yet adaptation efforts are not keeping pace with the scale and urgency of emerging risks.’
We face a national security risk, as outlined in the National Emergency Briefing, yet this is not being talked about on your programmes.

No party spokespeople were questioned or asked to comment on the fact that seven Reform-led councils have ‘scrapped’ their climate targets, and climate change denial has been expressed by Reform UK councillors in five councils. Some councils have removed content about climate change from strategy documents.’ (London School of Economics report). The BBC must prioritise discussion and debate of the National Emergency Briefing and force politicians to respond to it. Failing to do this means the BBC is part of the problem. The BBC should screen the National Emergency Briefing film on prime-time television as soon as possible.

I will keep you updated when I get replies to these complaints. Please help put pressure on the BBC to tell the full truth about the climate and nature emergencies and what is happening in Palestine. When you see or hear a programme that talks about climate change but fails to mention the most dangerous aspects of it, like the collapse of AMOC or the death of rainforests, make sure to send a complaint in. Likewise, when people are accused of anti-semitism for simply opposing the Israeli Government and the Genocide they are committing, send in a complaint. https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints

Meanwhile, Jonathon Fuller is making progress in the preparation for taking the BBC to Judicial Review.