Another day, another BBC failure to declare their commentators’ activism. Politics Live today brought on a headmaster to chat about 12 hour school days. Surprise surprise, he was full of criticism for the government and robust words for Tory MP Kieran Mullan…
Andrew O’Neil spends his time attending Labour events and praising “fantastic” Starmer for finally having “some policy and fresh ideas”. Naturally he thinks Sunak is a “disgrace” and covers his Twitter with support for campaigning Labour candidates, along with calls for an election to boot the Tories out. When he gets out he follows Labour Shadow Cabinet members around for selfies. As always, O’Neil is entitled to his views and the BBC is equally entitled to air them, though viewers have a right to know his partisan credentials…
As Labour announce its plans to nationalise railways, the free-market think tanks have already got the wheels rolling to warn against the socialist idea. Nationalisation stifles competition and innovation – a repeat of the 70s isn’t something anyone wants…
The Institute of Economic Affairs blasted the”lacking in detail” proposal, writing “the ritual denunciation of profits and the belief that ‘communities’ (or rather political bosses) have a role to play; but their role always seems to be to demand more money, resist closures, and open more lines, irrespective of any commercial discipline.”
The Adam Smith Institute‘s Director of Research Max Marlow pointed out how nationalisation hasn’t worked in past: “Nationalisation would be completely counter productive. During the 47 years of nationalised railways in the UK, passenger numbers collapsed and service was abysmal, even shocking by modern standards”. Guido’s sure Labour would respond with something along the lines of “it’ll work this time”…
Leaders in the rail industry have also hopped aboard to attack the plans. Andy Bagnall, chief executive of Rail Partners, said that “nationalisation is a political rather than a practical solution which will increase costs over time”. Just this morning the Shadow Transport Secretary admitted it wouldn’t lower fare costs…
Meanwhile, details on just how much this would cost are scant. The House of Commons Library’s Economic Policy and Statistics clerk says: “The government would be taking on all the costs involved with running the services, which are significant, and would be responsible for generating revenues from the services… I am afraid I am not able to produce an estimate myself and have not found a reliable estimate made by another organisation.” Off the rails…
Daily Sceptic editor Toby Young has just submitted a complaint to the BBC for failing to challenge or provide any correction for eco-activist and bird-sniffing presenter Chris Packham’s claim that the website is “put together by a bunch of professionals with close associations to the fossil fuel industry.” The ‘climate resistance’ are fans of wild funding allegations with no basis in fact…
Young points out, as he did after the Kuenssberg show was broadcast on Sunday, that neither he nor any of the people who put together the website have any affiliations of funding from the fossil fuel industry. He wasn’t challenged on the show and the clip was tweeted out subsequently with no clarification. One for Marianna Spring and the BBC Verify sleuths to look into no doubt…
Co-conspirators can lodge their own complaints here…
Read Toby Young’s full complaint below:
Former Shadow Chancellor and Marxist John McDonnell took to ITV Peston to decry Rayner’s “pint-sized loser” comment about Rishi Sunak. He magnanimously told Peston that “I don’t do that sort of thing, I think that tarnished it a little bit.” Guido reminds his readers of Mcdonnell’s own less than savoury personal attacks on politicians…
Speaking about Esther McVey in 2014, he famously he asked “why aren’t we lynching the b**ch?”, he joked about his desire to “assassinate” Margaret Thatcher if he could go back in time, and he also demanded the police “arrest” and “prosecute” Tony Blair back in 2013. Stones and glass houses…
Morgan has led the charge onto YouTube after getting fired from TalkTV by Rupert Murdoch. Last Guido checked, his 17-strong TalkTV team were scrabbling for an exit. It looks like it was them who did the heavy lifting when it came to booking guests…
The audio is not safe for work. What happens when you go YouTube only…
Labour have today pledged to renationalise most passenger rail services within five years if they grab the keys to Downing Street, bringing the railways under state control. Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh went on the Today Programme to try and sell the idea to listeners. Unsurprisingly, she wasn’t too convincing…
She repeatedly said “I can’t promise we will lower fares“, and even when faced with the question that fares could actually go up under the plans, Haigh didn’t deny it. Instead she rolled out the line that fares would be “simpler“. Simpler doesn’t mean cheaper…
