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Thursday 23 February 2012

Dimbleby Fail

Friday, 29th October 2010

I didn't watch Question Time last night, but there seems to be some stushie over David Dimbleby's refusal to allow Nicola Sturgeon to talk about fiscal autonomy. "This is for a UK audience!" squawked our host, shutting down any discussion of a matter that, whatever he may believe (if he knows anything about the subject) is not in fact of merely local, tartan interest.

I don't quite agree with everything Joan McAlpine writes here but many of her points are well-made. Dimbleby's attitude - assuming it has been reported correctly - reflects a London-based parochialism that does neither him nor the Corporation any credit. This is not a Scotland vs England affair; rather it reflects a presumption that while it is taken for granted that viewers in the rest of Britain should be interested in discussions about tube strikes in London or the next round of Boris vs Ken, matters of more local interest in Glasgow or Manchester or Cardiff cannot be expected to interest the wider audience. (The exception to this general rule seems to be when the programme vists Ulster.)

But if this is the case then one wonders what is the point of taking Question Time around the country anyway? As it happens, I think what happens in London should interest people in the rest of the UK and vice versa. Instead, however, it's hard to avoid the impression that the programme brings the metropolis (or rather, the Westminster Village) to the provinces where, as Rod Liddle noted last week, Ministers are shocked to discover that people have different perspectives and even, sometimes, priorities.

In any case, the question of fiscal powers for Holyrood is not a Scots-only affair since, by definition, changes in how Scottish public spending is financed have an impact on public spending in England and Wales too, to say nothing of the longer-term constitutional impact it may or may not have. (Incidentally this is also why, thanks to Barnett, the funding of English universities is also a matter for Scottish MPs at Westminster.)

Since Question Time rarely comes to Scotland (and Wales), it's not unreasonable to suppose that it might be able to devote, say, 20 minutes to discussing Scottish (or Welsh) issues once a series. The same might be said of its travels to northern England or the west country.

Relatedly, moving Radio 5 to Manchester is a good thing and those BBC Executives scared of northern deprivation should be told to seek alternative employment.

UPDATE: Gerry Hassan has more to say on this. So does Lallands Peat Worrier while James Kelly observes the irony that much of the first 15 minuted of last night's programme was spent discussing the London housing market, rendering Dimbleby's suggestion that "We may be in Glasgow, but Question Time goes out to the whole United Kingdom" doubly comic and ironic.

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Andy Wightman

October 29th, 2010 2:14pm Report this comment

Well said. I have never felt as annoyed as I did last night about the BBC QT format. I suggest we monitor, very carefully, the next time a panellist talks about an "English only" matter like health or education and see whether Dimbleby interjects with the same rant he put Nicola Sturgeon down with. She, by the way could quite correctly have walked out at that point or later when Dimbleby later brought up the Megrahi release decision.

Naomi Muse

October 29th, 2010 2:26pm Report this comment

Another example of David Dimbleby not being a good chairman for the programme. How short sighted of him not to allow Nicola Sturgeon to speak on a very pertinent subject to us all.

Indy

October 29th, 2010 2:35pm Report this comment

It was the glaring inconsistencies, as well as his hectoring and pompous manner. He very rudely told Nicola Sturgeon that she was not allowed to talk about fiscal autonomy or independence because those were Scottish issues and it was a UK programme. But he then asked every panel member EXCEPT Nicola Sturgeon what they thought of the Megrahi decision. It was quite astounding.

Tiberius

October 29th, 2010 2:59pm Report this comment

I watched the programme, Alex, and while I have no wish to defend Dimbleby, he was simply preventing Sturgeon from the crime of deviation (as one might say in Just a Minute). As chairman, he is entitled to do that.

What he did not do, was to correct her when she referred to the Scottish Government. I know the UK is a constutional dog's breakfast thanks to Blair, but as far as I know, Holyrood houses (and very comfortably too, I'm told) a Devolved Assembly.

Christian Allard

October 29th, 2010 3:41pm Report this comment

Tiberius, if Dimbleby decides to retire after alienating the whole of Scotland, you might want to try to get the job, you seems perfectly qualified.
There is a Scottish Governement and a Scottish Parliament up here, no devolved assembly. Next time you come to Scotland, come and have a look.

Gerry Hassan

October 29th, 2010 6:43pm Report this comment

A good, thoughtful comment Alex. As I make the case in my blog - the hyperlink to which is above in Alex's piece - this is about more than the Beeb, one programme or even the problem of Dimblebyism. It is about the political centre's take of what the UK is.

CassiusClaymore

October 29th, 2010 7:43pm Report this comment

What do you expect? What irritates me almost as much as the BBC is the SNP's supine approach to the treatment they receive.

They should be taking the BBC to task for their bias on a daily basis, and ruthlessly utilising the one piece of leverage they have - the fact that Kenny Macaskill has it within his power to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, by announcing that the Crown Office will not pursue criminal proceedings against non-payers.

£140 fiscal stimulus to every household!

Frank P

October 29th, 2010 8:57pm Report this comment

Could we have sub-titles when QT is in Scotland, please? And if Brillo gets any worse with his autocue, we will need them on This Week, too.

And why did he entertain that stupid sister of Cherie with her Islam conversion scam? His reverential tone was nauseating and Portmanteau was worse. She should have been shredded - the only possible excuse for having her there. The programme has now become a parody of itself.

MairT

October 30th, 2010 1:33am Report this comment

FrankP> Regarding Miss Booth and her cohorts last night, I used to "off" buttom as I felt nauseated by this vacuous bunch of idiots. I agree totally with your views..........

Dumbledore was out of hand last night and deserves to be brought down a peg or six.

Ron

November 2nd, 2010 12:02am Report this comment

Even when it's in the North of England they field questions about Northern issues. A recent one had questions relating to the closure of a northern industry, with a few of the workers fielding questions. I'm not instinctively pro-independence, but I'm starting to wonder. The English on the whole think we're socialist vermin.

Davie Park

November 2nd, 2010 12:55pm Report this comment

At least it lets us know where we stand. A 'Scottish' issue (like Scotland itself) is parochial and uninteresting.
I'm sure that attitude guarantees that Scotland (indeed all places furth of the SE of England) get full consideration from the policy makers in Westminster.
We obviously like the feeling of being shafted.

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