viewers hit out at lengthy coverage of poll tax and miners' strike after baroness thatcher's death

7/30/2019 Viewers Hit Out at Lengthy Coverage of Poll Tax and Miners' Strike After Baroness Thatcher's Death

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Public anger at BBC bias: Viewers hit out at

lengthy coverage of poll tax and miners' strikeafter Baroness Thatcher's death

Viewers complain bulletins gave too great an emphasis to critics

Twitter users accuse BBC of 'shameless' bias against the former PM

One viewer said: 'You name the socialist, they've interviewed them'

Another said the coverage was 'an absolute Left-wing biased disgrace'

By Vanessa Allen and Alasdair Glennie

PUBLISHED: 22:24 GMT, 9 April 2013 | UPDATED: 22:54 GMT, 9 April 2013

BBC Radio 4 presenter James Naughtie has been accused of Left-wing bias

The BBC was accused of 'disgraceful' bias yesterday over its coverage of Baroness Thatcher's death.

Angry viewers complained its news bulletins gave too great an emphasis to her critics and to controversies

such as the poll tax and the miners' strike.


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Twitter users accused the BBC of 'shameless' bias against the former Prime Minister. The broadcaster also

faced criticism because newsreaders did not wear black ties following the announcement of her death.

During her 11 years as Prime Minister, Lady Thatcher made clear her dislike of those running the BBC and

complained about its 'Left-wing' bias.

In the hours following the announcement of her death, those feelings were echoed by many.

EF, London, declared: 'Shameless Marxist BBC, Ken Livingstone. Tony Benn. You name the socialist, they've

interviewed them to try and ruin the memory of this great lady.'Paul Wells said: 'The BBC 10 o'clock news coverage of Baroness Thatcher's death is an absolute Left-wing

biased disgrace . . . I want a TV licence refund now!'

'Baroness Thatcher a great leader of 20th Century, BBC brings on the haters and emphasises insignificant

disturbances. Angry about the bias,' tweeted Bazee@Bazee.

Ken Scott claimed: 'BBC News showing their left-wing credentials by dragging a load of Thatcher haters out

for interview. All of them waste-of-time has-beens!'

Chris Latimer tweeted: 'I am beginning to see the point of view of those who think the #bbc is Left-wing. Their

coverage of Thatcher's death has been disgraceful.'

Concern over the BBC coverage was also reflected on Mail Online, where Jiminy posted: 'The BBC allowed a

union spokesman to be broadcast on Radio 2 news this evening saying that no tears would be shed in the

North East following Margaret Thatcher's death.

'I consider this to be the most cynical, nasty thing the BBC has allowed to be broadcast in many years. I will be

writing to complain. Sickened.'

There was also criticism that TV anchors failed to show sufficient respect. Huw Edwards, who was presenting

a programme on Lady Thatcher on both the BBC News Channel and BBC One, was among those who did not

wear a black tie.


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Prime Minister David Cameron makes a live speech on BBC News outside number 10

Downing Street on the death of Lady Baroness Margaret Thatcher

Paul Wells said: 'The BBC 10 o'clock news coverage of Baroness Thatcher's death is an

absolute Left-wing biased disgrace. I want a TV licence refund now!'


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Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher shows emotion as she leaves a service of

remembrance for her late husband Sir Denis Thatcher who died in June 2003

One Twitter user said: 'Would it be too much for the BBC news readers to put on a black tie and show some

respect!?'

Another user, MediaUK.com managing director James Cridland, tweeted: 'No black tie for BBC News Channel

presenter? Surprising.'

However, other users noted that BBC presenter Mark Mardell was wearing a black tie, whereas Sky's Adam

Boulton was not.

A BBC spokesman said he could not comment on whether there was any policy regarding black ties, but

added: 'The guidance is to dress as appropriate, to dress soberly.'

The BBC News website made an embarrassing gaffe when it reported briefly that Lady Thatcher had died

following a 'strike' rather than a stroke.


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Huw Edwards was among those who did not wear a black tie while reporting the news for

the BBC

One of Thatcher's arch critics - former Labour MP Tony Benn - was one of the first invited

to speak on BBC 5 Live and BBC World Service. Mr Benn is pictured here with miners'

leader Arthur Scargill (centre) in 1984

One Twitter user complained: 'Typical BBC left left left! The sooner the TV tax is abolished the sooner we can

consign the Labour Broadcasting Company to the bin. This was no typo.'

The BBC also invited Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to give his views within hours of her death.

Speaking on the BBC World Service, he said: 'Working-class communities in Ireland were devastated by

Thatcherism. . . her draconian policies prolonged the war here, she is most famously remembered for the

1980s hunger strikes.'


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The BBC also invited Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams to give his views within hours of her

death

Critics said it was 'disrespectful' to air an interview with Mr Adams on the day of Lady Thatcher's death, given

that the IRA tried to kill the former Prime Minister.

Tory MP Ben Wallace said: 'I think it's disrespectful to give such a significant amount of coverage to a man

who belongs to an organisation which tried to murder her.'

One of Thatcher's arch critics former Labour MP Tony Benn was one of the first invited to speak on BBC 5

Live and BBC World Service and was given free rein to criticise Lady Thatcher.

He said: 'Margaret Thatcher taught us the meaning of class war, we have paid a very heavy price for it.

'She used the power she had to make war on the miners and the trade union movement . . . and it was a very

divisive period as Prime Minister, but you have to recognise that was what she believed and that meant she

was not just fooling and she did in a sense open up the meaning of the phrase 'class war as she used her

power to make war on trade unions and the majority of the population.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'The death of Baroness Thatcher was a big breaking story of considerable interest to

our audiences.

'BBC News sensitively and respectfully reported the story as news of the death broke and continues to provide

extensive coverage and analysis across TV, radio and online featuring a range of voices and opinions.' On the

use of the word 'strike' instead of 'stroke', the spokesman said: 'This was an error which was quickly

corrected.'

* An Irish cricketer has apologised after tweeting that he hoped Lady Thatcher's death had been 'slow

and painful'.

All-rounder John Mooney, who scored the winning runs in Ireland's historic win over England at the

2011 Cricket World Cup, has deleted the message.


9/13

Yesterday he used his Twitter account to apologise, saying: 'I would like to apologise to anyone that I

upset.'

MAILONLINE & DAILY MAIL CAMPAIGN: HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

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know, sign this online petition and submit it to us. We will pass it to the Prime Minister'soffice at 10 Downing Street

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Comments (148)

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Channel 4 news was/is just as bad. Jon Snow didn't even try to hide his left wing bias.

- Bernard , Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 02:13

Click to rate Rating (0)

Report abuse

This is why I do not own a TV or pay the TV tax. The BBC is merely a socialist propaganda machine and should not be funded by

taxpayer's money. Privatise it or better still close it down and turn their new offices into housing.

- Serfer Dude , Chavtown EUSSR, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 02:11


Report abuse

I am sick of the BBC left wing bias, I will be stopping my licence fee. Why should I pay for something that doesn't give a balance

view and is strongly one sided. When most of the people stop paying it will have to shut down.

- Maggie , Cheshire, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 02:09


Report abuse

How can you say that Naughtie is biased? During one election he was talking about how many more seats 'we' need to get to

win...... haha forgot himself There is nothing wrong with him having a Labour leaning but the program makers need to balance the

presentations...... and not just have Labour reporters giving their views..... of course there probably aren't any right wingers in the

BBC, for which management should hold their heads in shame


12/13

- Tesa , Dorchester, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 02:09


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I wonder if Margaret Thatcher had been a male prime minister, on his death, would there have been all this controversy?

- EastickGirl , Adelaide, Australia, 10/4/2013 02:06


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I was thinking this but thought I was paranoid, they lady had just died and hours laer they rounded up all the people they could find to

slag her off. Childish!

- NeverPrint MyComment , Fedupsville, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 02:04


Report abuse

The B.B.C. biased, now who would have thought that .

- expat , auckland, 10/4/2013 01:47

Click to rate Rating 52

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Pot. Kettle. Black! Yesterday I counted 18, yes 18 different pro-Thatcher articles on DM. In fact, I had to scroll 2/3 of the way down

the Home page before I got past them.

- Totoro , London, United Kingdom, 10/4/2013 01:46


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A nuclear war about to kick off and THIS is your lead article????

- atwbaker , Exeter, 10/4/2013 01:43


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I felt all TV news overused this story. There are many other things and all they do is talk about the death. It is a tragedy but it wasn't

the ONLY thing happening on Monday surely.

- Noodle Doodle , Noodle Town, 10/4/2013 01:41


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13/13

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viewers hit out at lengthy coverage of poll tax and miners' strike after baroness thatcher's death

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