Regional Assemblies .co.uk


	From: Tony Bennett, 66 Chippingfield, HARLOW ,Essex, CM17 0DJ Saturday, 6 March 2004 Mr Fraser Steel Head of Programme Complaints Programme Complaints Department BBC, Broadcasting House Portland Place LONDON W1A 1AA Dear Mr Steel re: Complaint of Bias about the forthcoming Referendums on Regional Assemblies: Programme: ‘Ten O’Clock News’, Radio 4, Thursday 4 March 2004 I am very concerned at what is another clear example of bias by the BBC, this time in its coverage of the debate on elected regional assemblies. I am an opponent of regional assemblies, elected or otherwise. I have also researched in depth the extent to which the setting-up of regional assemblies is part of the European Union’s agenda to break up the nation-states of Europe and create instead a series of regions throughout the E.U. dependent on Brussels, thus cutting out national governments. A research paper in which I give a summary of the key evidence for this is to be found on the website:www.regionalassemblies.co.uk. There is evidence over the past two years that the BBC has studiously avoided bringing this aspect to public notice, i.e. it has systematically denied a voice to those who wish to explain this to the British public. I have listened to many BBC radio programmes on regional assemblies and found every single one so far to be heavily biased. So far, overwhelming coverage has been given to the government case for them but also none to the opposing view. BBC commentators tend to emphasise the arguments in favour of elected regional assemblies. I have therefore begun monitoring your output on this subject more closely. It parallels the proven bias on issues concerning the European Union and the euro which was systematically documented in six separate reports by Minotaur Media Tracking, but which the BBC still fails to admit, still less address by ensuring that its coverage of E.U.–related issues becomes balanced. There are going to be referendums in the ‘North West Region’ and the ‘North East Region’ later this year and possibly also in Yorkshire/Humberside. In passing, it is noteworthy that the boundaries of these regions have been decided three decades in advance by the European Economic Commission, as conclusively proved in a recent Sunday Telegraph article. So there is absolutely no way in which the public can express a view on the proposed boundaries of these regions. The fact that there are going to be referendums on elected regional assemblies gives an additional reason, quite apart from its Charter obligations, as to why the BBC should be scrupulously fair in its coverage and give equal time to both sides of the argument. In the North East, there is an active campaign against elected regional assemblies, called North East Against Regional Assemblies (NEARA). Opinion polls in the North East and North West show majority opinion against regional assemblies, an argument for giving may be even more than 50% coverage to the ‘antis’. Also, there have been six public meetings in the North East to date at which votes have been taken on whether the meetings support or oppose elected regional assemblies. Every single one to date has voted substantially, sometimes overwhelmingly, against elected regional assemblies. It is against that background that I now come to my second-by-second monitoring of your broadcast on Radio 4 on Thursday evening which lasted 8 minutes and 10 seconds. This is my summary of those 8 minutes and 10 seconds, the time given to the nearest 5 seconds in each case: 10.19.30 Introduction. Neutral 10.20.05 Introduction by Reporter, Luke Walton. Broadly neutrtal 10.20.40 Liberal Democrat supporter of elected regional assemblies (55 seconds) 10.21.35 Interviews with the public who mostly said they knew little or nothing about regional assemblies 10.22.30 Simon Horning (neutral) discussing assembly powers 10.23.00 Comment about a government leaflet which was said to be boring and poor (neutral) 10.23.35 Comment about the local economy being a big issue in the referendum (neutral) 10.23.45 John Tomoney, supporter of elected regional assemblies (25 seconds) 10.24.10 Conservative spokesman, opponent of elected regional assemblies (15 seconds) 10.24.25 Interviewer discusses whether the regional assembly will be a ‘talking shop’ (neutral) 10.24.40 Government Minister, Nick Raynesford, supporter of regional assemblies, interviewed gently by interviewer and allowed full opportunity to make his points (180 seconds) 10.27.40 Broadcasts ends. I now come to the following observations: (1) Time allowed to the three people in favour of regional assemblies (the Liberal Democrat, John Tomoney and Nick Raynesford) totalled 260 seconds (2) Time allocated to the only opponent of elected regional assemblies: 15 seconds (3) The time allowed to the supporters of elected regional assemblies was over 17 times as much as to the opponent. To put it another way, the ‘anti’ case got less than 6% air time while the ‘pro’ side got over 94% of the 275 seconds which were partisan (the remainder I would assess as broadly neutral) (4) There was no coverage of the known fact that regional assemblies have been part of the E.U. agenda for decades - no mention for example of the E.U.’s Committee of the Regions (5) There was no reference to the vigorous local campaign by NEARA nor to other similar ‘anti’ campaigns in the North West and Yorkshire/Humberside (6) There was no reference to the strong opposition to regional assemblies at six public meetings in the North East (7) There was no reference to opinion poll evidence showing strong opposition to elected regional assemblies. This example of overwhelming coverage of the ‘pro’ regional assembly case in contrast to just 15 seconds for the ‘anti’ case is completely unacceptable. It is clear that the Electoral Commission must be made aware of this issue and I am copying my complaint to them as well as to others who will be equally concerned at yet another instance of serious bias by the BBC. There is only one way to remedy broadcasts like this - and the many others which have to date overwhelmingly favoured the ‘pro’ regional assembly arguments. The BBC must now put on a series of broadcasts giving heavy emphasis to the growing and concerted opposition to regional assemblies and the arguments being put by those opposed to the setting-up of these assemblies. Equally, guidelines must now go out from the very top of the BBC to ensure that the BBC is scrupulously neutral in all broadcasts leading up to what will no doubt be a keenly-fought referendum. The BBC is under certain legal obligations about its output and particularly so during a referendum campaign which has, effectively, already started. I have written to you separately about a previous complaint of bias on the ‘Today’ programme, which you upheld, relating to that programme covering only the arguments for scrapping the 1702 Act of Settlement. You recommended the ‘Today’ programme to rectify the bias you found by allowing someone to put the argument for retention of that Act, but this has not yet taken place. I await hearing what action you and the BBC will be taking in response to this complaint. Yours sincerely Tony Bennett __________________ Tony Bennett 66 Chippingfield HARLOW Essex CM17 0DJ Tel/Fax: 01279 635789 ............................................................. Will councillors have to pay? Letter published in the Western Morning News on 22 November 2003 From David Owen The unlawful diversion of public funds by local councillors can lead to an action for recovery from their personal assets. For some time, foolish councillors across the length and breadth of the country have been diverting taxpayers' money to fund the self established, self appointed and anaccountable regional assemblies. These regional assemblies are not yet established by statute law. If (as seems most likely) any plan to break up England into regions comes to nothing, would there not be a legal case for the present funds on which they exist to be recovered from the personal assets of the councillors who have authorised the payment of funds to the regional assemblies from their council's tax income? Taxpayers' money must be spent on the local community and not used to fund political adventures. The councillors concerned would be well advised to be extremely careful or they might, one day, find themselves in the same invidious position as Dame Shirley Porter, of Westminster Council. Opinion polls held in all of the English regions clearly show that there is no public support for the replacement of the existing local government structure by elected or unelected regional assemblies. David Owen Exmouth ....................................................................... The following letter was published in the Daily Telegraph on 6 November 2003 "England's counties need defending" SIR - A.R. Winstanley rightly points out the immense resentment caused by artificial local boundaries (Letters, Nov 5). The systematic destruction of England's historic counties and local democracy is under way, and Conservative-led shire councils have been paying for their own demise. Almost without exception, local councils fund John Prescott's unelected regional assemblies. Here in mid-Bedfordshire, Tory councillors have woken up to this fact, and on September 17 voted to withhold payment to the East of England's Brussels office. If other councils follow, and throw Mr Prescott's cuckoo out of the nest, then the future of the counties could be assured. Nigel Draper Potton, Beds ..................................................................................... Two letters were published in the Times on 3 March 2003 from Mr Robert Theobald and Mr Neil Herron - These two patriotic and tireless individuals are helping to lead the campaign against regional assemblies in England today. Robert is campaigning against the East of England Regional Assembly and Neil Herron is campaigning against the North East Regional Assembly. Please support your local group (see 'Resistance Groups' page): .................................................................................... Government of English regions - The Times, 3 March 2003 From Mr Robert Theobald Sir, John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, has the challenging task of convincing the English that they need regional government (report, February 25). He is now receiving replies to a "sounding exercise" to establish the level of interest in holding referendums on whether to adopt regional government in the eight English regions. Desmond Swayne, the Conservative MP for New Forest West, observed in Parliament that the people writing to Mr Prescott to say that they do not want a regional assembly are counted as though they are in favour of holding a referendum. (Hansard, January 23, col 487). The motor of regionalisation is in Brussels. It is promoted as an extension of democracy promising regional economic benefits but in fact plans to convert our bottom-up accountable national and local democracy to the top-down continental system. Elected regional assemblies would raise tax and be answerable to Brussels. Yours faithfully ROBERT THEOBALD 127 Bushmead Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7YT lunadeplata@onetel.net.uk February 26 ........................................................................................... From Mr Neil Herron, Sir, I read with some amusement John Prescott's statement: "I believe there is a hunger for regional government in several parts of the country..." (report, earlier editions, February 25). He expects the first wave of referendums to include the North East. As someone born and bred in the region and passionate about the people here, I am stumped to find any hunger whatsoever for regional goverment except from those whose bellies are already distorted from feeding at the trough. I would point Mr Prescott to figures released by his own office on February 12 of responses to the Government White Paper on Regional Governance. Only 7 per cent of responses from the general public were in favour of elected regional government, with 72 per cent opposed. And the North East leading the supposed clamour? Only 30 of those who responded were in favour. Mr Prescott will need more spin than Shane Warne could ever offer to sell this one to the people. Yours faithfully, NEIL HERRON (Campaign Director), NEARA - North East Against Regional Assemblies 48 Frederick Street Sunderland SR1 1NF February 25 ........................................................................................