Sunday 17 November 2013

This morning's news agenda


Sky News are leading this morning with: 
David Cameron orders an inquiry into alleged bullying tactics by unions in the wake of the Grangemouth industrial dispute.
ITV News makes that its second story (after the typhoon in the Philippines): 
Prime Minister David Cameron has ordered a wide-ranging inquiry into industrial disputes, including alleged intimidation tactics of trade unions, following the bitter row that almost led to the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland. 
It's obviously a big story, with serious party political ramifications (especially for the Labour Party). 

So big that the BBC News website has it tucked in the small print of its home page, under the bland headline Industrial disputes inquiry ordered.

The BBC News website's running order this morning is:

1. Call to debate 15 as age of consent
Lowering the age of consent for sex to 15 should be considered by ministers, a leading public health expert urges. [Quite a few former BBC Radio 1 DJs will be keen on this idea too, methinks].

2. Art theft second to drug crime in UK
Organised criminal gangs are increasingly aiming to rob valuable works of art and antiques in the UK, according to senior police officers. [Linked story - Museum thefts: Are cuts to blame?]

3. Masses held in storm-hit Philippines
Thousands of survivors of a deadly storm attend church services in the Philippines, as international aid efforts begin to have a major impact.

4. Deadly clash at China police station
Nine axe-wielding attackers and two policemen are killed in clashes at a police station in China's volatile Xinjiang province, state media say. [A 'persecuted Muslims' story]

5. Typhoon shows need for action - DEC
The UK's Disasters Emergency Committee has urged countries to take urgent action on climate change, as UN talks enter their second week. [A climate change story, leading the Guardian website]

...then into the small print items...
Industrial disputes inquiry ordered
Hague urges Sri Lanka-led inquiry NEW
Call to cut financial phone charges
Clegg wants fifth tax allowance rise
Charles to launch youth campaign
Burglars stab victim several times
Naples rally against mafia pollution
 The BBC, setting the news agenda. Or trying to.

*****

UpdateActually, given the Jimmy Savile/Stuart Hall (etc) scandal, the BBC's decision to lead their website with Prof John Ashton's call for the age of consent to be lowered to 15 might be considered, as they used to say on Yes, Minister,  very "brave".

They are certainly going at it with a vengeance. (As is their way.) Prof Ashton was on throughout this morning's edition of BBC Breakfast, for example.

1 comment:

  1. Good point with the Savile parallels...it`s as if the BBC would hope to have history expunged...and make Savile seem a pioneer, who only the BBC understood.
    Give them time.
    File this "health expert" and his wishes under "Nutt"...making the unsayable into an academic debate for the croissant moochers of liberal opinion...they`ll be the progressives fighting the fuddy duddy reactionaries for "the kids" and to promote a "mature debate" and avoid "criminalising" healthy exploration.Same old tactics-predictable and in line with "progressive Islamic thought" as witnessed in Rochdale, Oxford, Derby, Blackpool among other places.
    Utterly transparent in their evil intent...the Russell Brand Party is on the move.

    ReplyDelete

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