Starmer's vision quest

[AuroraSaab]

Re Question Time, has Zarah Sultana never been asked or been asked and refused? Nobody had heard of Corbyn until he was leader so not surprising he had never been on before that. Some politicians seek every media opportunity they can grasp, others choose carefully or will refuse certain outlets. It is ridiculous the amount of exposure he gets for such a small (seat wise) party but he will go on anything so Farage (or one of a few familiar Tories) is the obvious first choice to sit in the 'right wing' chair on QT whereas there are 300+ 'left' possible choices.

 

[CXRAndy]

Whether you like Farage or not, he has been the most influential political figure, for probably 20yrs in the UK.

 

[matticus]

It is ridiculous the amount of exposure he gets for such a small (seat wise) party but he will go on anything so Farage (or one of a few familiar Tories) is the obvious first choice to sit in the 'right wing' chair on QT whereas there are 300+ 'left' possible choices.

"balance"

 

[icowden]

"balance"

I think it's BBC QT being hidebound by it's own rules. How does Question Time select its panel members?Each week Question Time aims to select a panel with a broad range of views, knowledge and experience, with panellists who are relevant to the big stories or debates of that week.

How do you decide which political parties are represented on Question Time?​

Question Time is rooted in politics and therefore has to achieve fair and appropriate representation from the various political parties across the UK.
This means there will nearly always be a representative from the UK government and the official opposition on the panel.
The panel will also feature representatives from other political parties across the series, taking as our guide the level of electoral support at national level which each party enjoys.
Sometimes parties may be represented by politicians who conspicuously do not support their party leadership – this too will be on a consistent basis.

So, if you are a Farage and very good at getting yourself into the news week on week, you stand a good chance of being on the panel. In recent months he also stands more chance as Reform gain more support. Of the opposition parties, Reform is polling above the Lib Dems, so again they are more likely to get the 3rd party seat.

 

[Xipe Totec]

Whether you like Farage or not, he has been the most influential political figure, for probably 20yrs in the UK.

Perhaps. But do you think that would still be the case if he didn't have a season ticket for QT and be the only name on every BBC interviewer's speed dial?

Simple question, yes or no will do - but feel free to extrapolate.

 

[Psamathe]

Reform is polling above the Lib Dems, so again they are more likely to get the 3rd party seat.

The BBC Criteria (you quoted) says "... electoral support at national level which each party enjoys.". Lib Dems have significant;ly higher electoral support as evidenced by the number of MPs. Polling results 4 years away from next election are not really "electoral support".

Ian

 

[icowden]

The BBC Criteria (you quoted) says "... electoral support at national level which each party enjoys.". Lib Dems have significant;ly higher electoral support as evidenced by the number of MPs. Polling results 4 years away from next election are not really "electoral support".

The number of MPs a party has is only a measure of support taken at the time of the general election. I'm pretty sure that the Beeb would go for a week by week measure - i.e. polling support. Also number of MPs is not representative of the support for that party, it's representative of the broken FPTP system.

 

[briantrumpet]

The number of MPs a party has is only a measure of support taken at the time of the general election. I'm pretty sure that the Beeb would go for a week by week measure - i.e. polling support. Also number of MPs is not representative of the support for that party, it's representative of the broken FPTP system.

But they've historically given Farage way over his representation on any metric.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

But they've historically given Farage way over his representation even on any metric.

There is one very easy way to reduce his influence, stop giving him air time, and yet the BBC and other broadcasters/media outlets choose not to. You have to ask why this is? I don't mean this in a conspiratorial way but Farage's representation in mainstream media has always far exceeded his actual political position and actual influence on governing. This has to be an editorial decision, but I would love to know the basis behind this, in their view.

 

[Pblakeney]

There is one very easy way to reduce his influence, stop giving him air time, and yet the BBC and other broadcasters/media outlets choose not to. You have to ask why this is? I don't mean this in a conspiratorial way but Farage's representation in mainstream media has always far exceeded his actual political position and actual influence on governing. This has to be an editorial decision, but I would love to know the basis behind this, in their view.

As I said before, click bait and viewing figures.

 

[matticus]

<googles ...>

The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com › politics › article › jun
29 Jun 2024 — Nigel Farage has announced he is boycotting the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of bias over his reception on Friday night's Question Time.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yahoo News UK
Nigel Farage is about to set the record for the most Question Time appearances this century
Nick Reilly
21 February 2018

Nigel Farage is reportedly set to achieve the joint highest number of Question Time appearances this century when he appears on the BBC show tomorrow night.

The former Ukip leader will make his 32nd appearance on the show as it airs from Blackpool – with the tally only matched by former Chancellor Ken Clarke.

Farage’s latest appearance comes after it was revealed that Ukip appeared on almost one in four of the BBC’s Question Time programmes in the last seven years – despite never having more than two MPs.

The revelation comes from recent analysis which showed that the anti-EU party were represented on 24 percent of the programmes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

<It would take a little longer to find his polling figures since 2001. Any volunteers?>

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

As I said before, click bait and viewing figures.

With the BBC as well though do you think? As a lot of right wing media and, so it seems, the public are constantly bashing the BBC for being left and liberal, does Farage's base actually watch the BBC? If not, what is the incentive for giving him so much air time? Is it the idea that the BBC appear terrified of not being viewed as impartial and therefore give far too much time and far too little scrutiny to him?

 

[AuroraSaab]

Well that's my kids working till 70 then...


View: https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1947233379537101301

 

[Psamathe]

The number of MPs a party has is only a measure of support taken at the time of the general election. I'm pretty sure that the Beeb would go for a week by week measure - i.e. polling support. Also number of MPs is not representative of the support for that party, it's representative of the broken FPTP system.

But their quoted guidelines explicitly says "electoral support" not "pollster support". To me that means support in elections rather than guesses at what might happen in some future distant election.

Ian

 

[Pblakeney]

With the BBC as well though do you think? As a lot of right wing media and, so it seems, the public are constantly bashing the BBC for being left and liberal, does Farage's base actually watch the BBC? If not, what is the incentive for giving him so much air time? Is it the idea that the BBC appear terrified of not being viewed as impartial and therefore give far too much time and far too little scrutiny to him?

Yes. Even the funded BBC needs figures to justify their existence.