09 March 2017 Delivering The Truth A focus on the arteries. By John Watson Politics by its very nature spawns slogans and also those descriptive expressions which bob along in their wake. We all remember the “wets” of the Thatcherite era, and the “big tent” of Tony Blair; time was when you could not go… Continue reading Issue 95: 2017 03 09: Delivering the truth (John Watson)
Tag: BBC
Issue 80: 2016 11 17: The Paxman Doll (Chin Chin)
17 November 2016 The Paxman Doll A tale of perversion? By Chin Chin Offended, and quite right too. The complaint (see Week in Brief UK) may have been a little late, but who could deny that Jeremy Paxman’s joke about Reading University’s University Challenge team taking a hand-knitted doll modelled on him to bed was… Continue reading Issue 80: 2016 11 17: The Paxman Doll (Chin Chin)
Issue 78: 2016 11 03: Week in Brief: UK
03 November 2016 Week in Brief: UK Government HEATHROW: A series of legal challenges is now getting underway against the new runway at Heathrow. One group, representing Teddington residents, has suggested that Sir Howard Davies, who chaired the enquiry which recommended the proposal, was biased because of his links with GIC Private Ltd, an owner… Continue reading Issue 78: 2016 11 03: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 71: 2016 09 15: Week in Brief: UK
15 September 2016 Week in Brief: UK Foreign Affairs LIBYA: A report of the House of Commons Defence Committee has heavily criticised David Cameron’s role in the 2011 bombing campaign in Libya. Stating that the then Chief of Defence Staff, Lord Richards, disassociated himself from the claim that the operation was in the national interest,… Continue reading Issue 71: 2016 09 15: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 67: 2016 08 18: The Perils Of Poor Translation (Richard Pooley)
18 August 2016 The Perils of Poor Translation and of banning the burkini. by Richard Pooley The BBC website is my main source of news and I don’t usually have cause to criticize it. But last week the mistranslation in a BBC report of one French word had me fulminating against the actions of a… Continue reading Issue 67: 2016 08 18: The Perils Of Poor Translation (Richard Pooley)
Issue 62: 2016 07 14: Week in Brief: UK
14 July 2016 Week in Brief: UK Politics PRIME MINISTER: Following Andrea Leadsom’s withdrawal from the contest, Theresa May was left as the only candidate for the leadership of the Conservative party and accordingly became Prime Minister on Wednesday. See comment The Chilcot Report and Mrs May. LABOUR LEADERSHIP: Angela Eagle has issued a challenge… Continue reading Issue 62: 2016 07 14: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 54: 2016 05 19: BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen (John Watson)
19 May 2016 The BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen Eavesdropping on private conversations should be a no-no By John Watson Take two cases. In one, a male celebrity cavorts in a bed with two other men. Once the press get hold of the story, an injunction is issued and the identity of the men cannot… Continue reading Issue 54: 2016 05 19: BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen (John Watson)
Issue 49: 2016 04 14: Panorama – The Cameron Coverage (John Watson)
14 April 2016 Panorama – The Cameron Coverage The BBC has a duty to put things fairly. by John Watson Those who read my piece Tax Havens and Panorama in Shaw Sheet last week may remember that it ended with three questions about Panorama’s coverage of Ian Cameron’s offshore funds. They were: did they now realise… Continue reading Issue 49: 2016 04 14: Panorama – The Cameron Coverage (John Watson)
Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Tax Havens and Panorama (John Watson)
07 April 2016 Tax Havens and Panorama The question Panorama didn’t answer. by John Watson I have always thought that there might be something in guilt by association. If you know that someone runs with a bad crowd it is often wise to keep them at arm’s length. Birds of a feather, that sort of… Continue reading Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Tax Havens and Panorama (John Watson)
Issue 43: 2016 03 03: Week in Brief: UK
03 March 2016 Week in Brief: UK DOCTORS’ STRIKE: Junior doctors have voted to continue their programme of strikes after agreement could not be reached with the Government over rates to be paid for weekend work. The BMA has announced that it intends to seek judicial review of Jeremy Hunt’s decision to impose new contracts.… Continue reading Issue 43: 2016 03 03: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 39: 2016 02 04: Week in Brief: UK
04 February 2016 Week in Brief: UK GOOGLE TAX: The Government and HMRC have come under fire for agreeing a tax deal with Google which means the company will pay £130 million back tax over ten years. It is thought that the amount of corporation tax paid is equivalent to a rate of 3%. Criticism… Continue reading Issue 39: 2016 02 04: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 35: 2016 01 07: Mounting the Soapbox (Lynda Goetz)
07 January 2016 Mounting the Soapbox Free speech in the 21st century. by Lynda Goetz “Sir, I detest your views, but would defend to the death your right to continue to express them.” These words (or various similar translations of them), generally attributed to the 18th century French writer and philosopher, Voltaire, may or may not… Continue reading Issue 35: 2016 01 07: Mounting the Soapbox (Lynda Goetz)
Issue 32: 2015 12 10: Week in Brief: UK
10 December 2015 Week in Brief: UK STORM DESMOND: Record rainfall in Cumbria has led to widespread flooding with much of the city of Carlisle underwater. The 15.9 inches of rain which fell within a 48-hour period at Thirlmere, Cumbria, was a new record, beating the previous record of 15.6 inches set in 2009. Water… Continue reading Issue 32: 2015 12 10: Week in Brief: UK
