Ben Williams
@bpwilliams72.bsky.social
Liberal sort. Rambler. Singer. Gamer. Occasional writer. Recovering politico. Former lots of things (inc. Lib Dem Leader's Chief of Staff, Cabinet Office SpAd, Head of Whips' Office). Yorkshire via Essex. Posting in a strictly personal capacity.
Reposted by Ben Williams
We’re going to be navigating a likely polarising environment with information fragmentation…
The chance to maintain common facts and a shared information space - alongside passionate disagreement and political debate - is one of the UK’s potential strengths. The BBC is surely essential for that
The chance to maintain common facts and a shared information space - alongside passionate disagreement and political debate - is one of the UK’s potential strengths. The BBC is surely essential for that
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
We’re going to be navigating a likely polarising environment with information fragmentation…
The chance to maintain common facts and a shared information space - alongside passionate disagreement and political debate - is one of the UK’s potential strengths. The BBC is surely essential for that
The chance to maintain common facts and a shared information space - alongside passionate disagreement and political debate - is one of the UK’s potential strengths. The BBC is surely essential for that
Reposted by Ben Williams
The BBC is surely big enough, strong enough, credible enough, respected enough, reflective enough, has wide enough reach and a strong enough history to stand up for itself, while acknowledging room to improve. And never kowtowing or denying facts
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The BBC is surely big enough, strong enough, credible enough, respected enough, reflective enough, has wide enough reach and a strong enough history to stand up for itself, while acknowledging room to improve. And never kowtowing or denying facts
Reposted by Ben Williams
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
Reposted by Ben Williams
"Funnily enough Andy [Wigmore], the only time I ever experienced political interference in one of my investigations at the BBC, was when I was investigating you and Arron Banks
Your mate Robbie Gibb put a stop to a story we were running."
- former BBC investigative reporter Manveen Rana, 2022
Your mate Robbie Gibb put a stop to a story we were running."
- former BBC investigative reporter Manveen Rana, 2022
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
"Funnily enough Andy [Wigmore], the only time I ever experienced political interference in one of my investigations at the BBC, was when I was investigating you and Arron Banks
Your mate Robbie Gibb put a stop to a story we were running."
- former BBC investigative reporter Manveen Rana, 2022
Your mate Robbie Gibb put a stop to a story we were running."
- former BBC investigative reporter Manveen Rana, 2022
Reposted by Ben Williams
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 AM
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
Reposted by Ben Williams
Wouldn't it be brilliant if people on right or left who disagree with BBC editorial decisions stopped screaming and pointed out calmly why? And if BBC responded calmly, by making changes or explaining why it won't? Then BBC might remain a huge asset to UK, rather than a focal point for hysteria.
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Wouldn't it be brilliant if people on right or left who disagree with BBC editorial decisions stopped screaming and pointed out calmly why? And if BBC responded calmly, by making changes or explaining why it won't? Then BBC might remain a huge asset to UK, rather than a focal point for hysteria.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Ouch!
So, just the normal stuff your carmaker knows about you.
🤯
(From Byron Tau’s Means of Control, which you should read)
#talkaboutSurveillanceCapitalism
🤯
(From Byron Tau’s Means of Control, which you should read)
#talkaboutSurveillanceCapitalism
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Ouch!
Thank goodness @eddavey.libdems.org.uk is speaking up. Rightwing politicians are trading on a serious editorial misjudgement (which didn't change in any material way the accuracy of the reporting) to undermine the BBC. Others are cynically and cowardly covering themselves. It should worry us all.
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Thank goodness @eddavey.libdems.org.uk is speaking up. Rightwing politicians are trading on a serious editorial misjudgement (which didn't change in any material way the accuracy of the reporting) to undermine the BBC. Others are cynically and cowardly covering themselves. It should worry us all.
Reposted by Ben Williams
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Flashing Red
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list"
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Revealed: Brexit group covered up its targeting of right-wing extremists
Brexit-backer Arron Banks repeatedly denied that Leave.EU appealed to National Front supporters - in a bid to get the BBC to drop an investigation
www.channel4.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Robbie Gibb who cancelled a BBC investigation into Farage's Leave dot EU campaign shortly before the EU Ref
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
Arron Banks thanked him for it
"Robbie Gibb is being quite helpful and says he’s trying to hose it down."
- @channel4news.bsky.social in 2019
The forces reshaping our politics understand the role the BBC plays. A serious error of editorial judgement is being used to confect a row with the clear intention of cowing the BBC. We already have disproportionate saturation coverage of Farage. Now the aim is to pull teeth and blunt criticism.
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 AM
The forces reshaping our politics understand the role the BBC plays. A serious error of editorial judgement is being used to confect a row with the clear intention of cowing the BBC. We already have disproportionate saturation coverage of Farage. Now the aim is to pull teeth and blunt criticism.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Almost most worrying is that if this recent @prospectmagazine.co.uk podcast is anything to do back, culture secretary Lisa Nandy doesn’t understand broadcasting impartiality rules either
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
Lisa Nandy: We’re not afraid to regulate US big tech, no matter what Donald Trump says
The secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport talks free speech and the future of the BBC
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Almost most worrying is that if this recent @prospectmagazine.co.uk podcast is anything to do back, culture secretary Lisa Nandy doesn’t understand broadcasting impartiality rules either
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Like why would the bbc need to ‘balance’ its cover of the US in this way?
When the BBC covers, say, Xi critically should it also run a programme dedicated to the CCP’s achievements?
When the BBC covers, say, Xi critically should it also run a programme dedicated to the CCP’s achievements?
November 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Like why would the bbc need to ‘balance’ its cover of the US in this way?
When the BBC covers, say, Xi critically should it also run a programme dedicated to the CCP’s achievements?
When the BBC covers, say, Xi critically should it also run a programme dedicated to the CCP’s achievements?
Reposted by Ben Williams
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it?
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC is facing a coordinated, politically motivated attack. With these resignations, it has given in | Jane Martinson
The corporation should have stood up to the Telegraph, Trump and the Tories. Now, its enemies know how little it takes for it to fold, says Jane Martinson, professor of financial journalism
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Michael Prescott was ‘“shocked” that after an hour-long Panorama documentary dealing with Trump and the January 6 insurgency, there was no “similar, balancing” programme about Kamala Harris.’
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
More read about the machinations between the BBC resignations, the more worrying it becomes
Charles Moore calling for impartiality. I would be very happy if the BBC stopped giving Farage and Reform coverage entirely disproportionate to their parliamentary representation, whilst almost virtually ignoring Lib Dems with 72 MPs. It is entirely partial to keep giving Reform a voice.
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Charles Moore calling for impartiality. I would be very happy if the BBC stopped giving Farage and Reform coverage entirely disproportionate to their parliamentary representation, whilst almost virtually ignoring Lib Dems with 72 MPs. It is entirely partial to keep giving Reform a voice.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Losing both the director-general and the very obvious heir apparent as the result of such an orchestrated attack is truly existential stuff for the BBC.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
November 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Losing both the director-general and the very obvious heir apparent as the result of such an orchestrated attack is truly existential stuff for the BBC.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
It’s also a *massive* challenge for Lisa Nandy, who has so far failed to impress anyone as culture secretary.
Reposted by Ben Williams
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
Reposted by Ben Williams
It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Might you have missed some of the depth of Tuesday's results, beyond the big headline races?
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Might you have missed some of the depth of Tuesday's results, beyond the big headline races?
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
I'd been watching roughly 200 races heading into Election Day, so here's a thread of some of what you don't want to skip over!
🧵
Reposted by Ben Williams
Had a conversation last night where I was told he was a “whistleblower” (he isn’t) and this was an internally commissioned report (it wasn’t) that the BBC was suppressing (it isn’t) and when I countered with the fact none of that is true was told it was a distinction that doesn’t matter.
Just as a matter of complete pedantry on this “internal BBC dossier” story the telegraph have been going insane about for 3 days, the bloke who wrote it was an independent external advisor so how can it be an internal dossier?
November 9, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Had a conversation last night where I was told he was a “whistleblower” (he isn’t) and this was an internally commissioned report (it wasn’t) that the BBC was suppressing (it isn’t) and when I countered with the fact none of that is true was told it was a distinction that doesn’t matter.
The idiocy of this is that there was just no need to do this. Trump said what he said. The words stood. He was inciting violence - a congressional committee investigated. "Trump lit that fire" was the chair's comment. Now, they get to cow and bully the BBC because of a stupid editorial decision.
November 9, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The idiocy of this is that there was just no need to do this. Trump said what he said. The words stood. He was inciting violence - a congressional committee investigated. "Trump lit that fire" was the chair's comment. Now, they get to cow and bully the BBC because of a stupid editorial decision.
Reposted by Ben Williams
As Trump prepares for a land invasion of Venezuela (and possibly Colombia and Mexico as well), there are more US naval assets in the Caribbean than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis
November 8, 2025 at 11:14 PM
As Trump prepares for a land invasion of Venezuela (and possibly Colombia and Mexico as well), there are more US naval assets in the Caribbean than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis
Reposted by Ben Williams
What this policy, and indeed the signal it sends of an unbowed determination to head in the opposite direction of the average Labour voter on immigration specifically and social libralism in general, is give left-liberal voters an even stronger incentive to vote against Labour next May
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
What this policy, and indeed the signal it sends of an unbowed determination to head in the opposite direction of the average Labour voter on immigration specifically and social libralism in general, is give left-liberal voters an even stronger incentive to vote against Labour next May
Reposted by Ben Williams
Meanwhile, if anyone thinks there are are many Reform voters who think "I have zero trust in Labour on immigration, the small boats are still arriving, but *this* latest gesture at hardline policy is the one that will make me look again" I have a bridge to sell you. So who is this policy for?
November 8, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Meanwhile, if anyone thinks there are are many Reform voters who think "I have zero trust in Labour on immigration, the small boats are still arriving, but *this* latest gesture at hardline policy is the one that will make me look again" I have a bridge to sell you. So who is this policy for?
Reposted by Ben Williams
I guess it is an improvement when British governments notice that Europe exists and has governments, rather than just drawing all of its lessons from the US. Bit annoying though that they again go with "lets draw one shallow lesson from this place & ignore all the differences between there & here"
November 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I guess it is an improvement when British governments notice that Europe exists and has governments, rather than just drawing all of its lessons from the US. Bit annoying though that they again go with "lets draw one shallow lesson from this place & ignore all the differences between there & here"