Laura Phillips
@lauraphillips.bsky.social
Campaigner to support the BBC, (not a BBC employee).It’s affected by savage UK govt cuts: c40% 2010-2024. BBC costs <48 pence/around 62 US cents a day per UK household. It’s a national public service broadcaster, respected worldwide for accurate reporting.
The BBC debacle recalls Scott Fitzgerald's famous quotation: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time+still retain the ability to function." In this case many opposing ideas may be true all at the same time. 1/
November 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The BBC debacle recalls Scott Fitzgerald's famous quotation: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time+still retain the ability to function." In this case many opposing ideas may be true all at the same time. 1/
#BBCWorldAtOne: #BBC chair Samir Shah has apologised for how #Panorama edited a speech by Donald #Trump - but says it is 'simply not true' nothing has been done to tackle problems raised.
Former BBC Trust member Richard Ayre says it was a 'mistake' this was not publicised earlier.
Former BBC Trust member Richard Ayre says it was a 'mistake' this was not publicised earlier.
video.twimg.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
#BBCWorldAtOne: #BBC chair Samir Shah has apologised for how #Panorama edited a speech by Donald #Trump - but says it is 'simply not true' nothing has been done to tackle problems raised.
Former BBC Trust member Richard Ayre says it was a 'mistake' this was not publicised earlier.
Former BBC Trust member Richard Ayre says it was a 'mistake' this was not publicised earlier.
Liverpool complain to BBC over Kelvin MacKenzie TV appearance
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
If the BBC pays Trump, will anyone believe any of its US reports again?
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
If the BBC pays Trump, will anyone believe any of its US reports again?
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
They can't just not publish material in the US because, the internet.
Do they have any choice but to make a stand, repeat the apology and hope the British government backs them
Maybe the King could help? Ours I mean.
“So now is the time to come to the aid of the BBC. It needs all the friends it can get (and that includes members of the current government, who might like to be a bit more voluble in their support).
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“So now is the time to come to the aid of the BBC. It needs all the friends it can get (and that includes members of the current government, who might like to be a bit more voluble in their support).
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
Because I promise you this: you’ll miss it when it’s gone.” By @robinlustig.bsky.social
@markurban.bsky.social: ”Those who fulminate about a ‘coup’ need to produce their evidence.Naturally the BBC has lots of enemies from press barons to the populist left+right. But failing to deal internally with issues like those raised by Prescott is a gift to the destroyers”
The BBC is Deep in Crisis
Some inside scoop on what's happened and why
markurban.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
@markurban.bsky.social: ”Those who fulminate about a ‘coup’ need to produce their evidence.Naturally the BBC has lots of enemies from press barons to the populist left+right. But failing to deal internally with issues like those raised by Prescott is a gift to the destroyers”
Richard Ayre, ex head BBC Westminster, BBC Trust member +Ofcom content Board member tells #BBCWorldatOne’s Sarah Montague that #Trump #Panorama edit was “insupportable”. Says BBC board should have put into public domain actions it took to improve impartiality.
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Richard Ayre, ex head BBC Westminster, BBC Trust member +Ofcom content Board member tells #BBCWorldatOne’s Sarah Montague that #Trump #Panorama edit was “insupportable”. Says BBC board should have put into public domain actions it took to improve impartiality.
Why the BBC, not faultless, is essential. Trump has now threatened to sue it. We just have to look at the US, where national public service broadcasting is a sideshow,+there’s no proper regulation to see what happens when a country gives up on its responsibility to privilege facts over ‘free speech’
1. Tucker Carlson is mainstreaming white supremacy, hosting Nick Fuentes — a white nationalist who praises Hitler — for a fawning 2-hour interview
These companies are sponsoring Carlson's show:
Rocket Money
Eight Sleep
Beam
These companies are sponsoring Carlson's show:
Rocket Money
Eight Sleep
Beam
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Why the BBC, not faultless, is essential. Trump has now threatened to sue it. We just have to look at the US, where national public service broadcasting is a sideshow,+there’s no proper regulation to see what happens when a country gives up on its responsibility to privilege facts over ‘free speech’
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Donald Trump's threat of legal action could really damage the BBC's hopes of gaining federal approval for expanding its US cable business.
November 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Donald Trump's threat of legal action could really damage the BBC's hopes of gaining federal approval for expanding its US cable business.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
No 10 says "no" when asked if PM thinks BBC is institutionally biased or corrupt.
"We support a strong, independent BBC and in an age of disinformation the argument for a robust, impartial UK news service is stronger than ever, but it's important that trust is maintained and errors are corrected."
"We support a strong, independent BBC and in an age of disinformation the argument for a robust, impartial UK news service is stronger than ever, but it's important that trust is maintained and errors are corrected."
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
No 10 says "no" when asked if PM thinks BBC is institutionally biased or corrupt.
"We support a strong, independent BBC and in an age of disinformation the argument for a robust, impartial UK news service is stronger than ever, but it's important that trust is maintained and errors are corrected."
"We support a strong, independent BBC and in an age of disinformation the argument for a robust, impartial UK news service is stronger than ever, but it's important that trust is maintained and errors are corrected."
November 10, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Laura Phillips
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
November 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The fact that the BBC has made serious culpable errors does not negate the point that there is a real and concerted right-wing media campaign to destroy it. Both points can be true at the same time and the campaign would not end even if the errors did.
BBC’s Nick Eardley: ‘Downing St responds to BBC resignations:
- PM does not think BBC institutionally biased or corrupt
- No 10 says BBC must respond quickly when it makes mistakes
- "For any public service broadcaster - accountability is vital"’
- PM does not think BBC institutionally biased or corrupt
- No 10 says BBC must respond quickly when it makes mistakes
- "For any public service broadcaster - accountability is vital"’
November 10, 2025 at 1:21 PM
BBC’s Nick Eardley: ‘Downing St responds to BBC resignations:
- PM does not think BBC institutionally biased or corrupt
- No 10 says BBC must respond quickly when it makes mistakes
- "For any public service broadcaster - accountability is vital"’
- PM does not think BBC institutionally biased or corrupt
- No 10 says BBC must respond quickly when it makes mistakes
- "For any public service broadcaster - accountability is vital"’
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
Good news for a change.
Train hero Samir Zitouni wakes in hospital and speaks to wife
The injured crew member is credited with saving multiple lives during a mass stabbing incident.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Good news for a change.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
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 Laura Phillips
Robbie Gibb once suggested that reporters should reflect if they were getting more retweets from one side than the other - a braindead analysis that ignores that fair and impartial reporting of education might get more Tory retweets than say, criminal justice.
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
November 10, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Robbie Gibb once suggested that reporters should reflect if they were getting more retweets from one side than the other - a braindead analysis that ignores that fair and impartial reporting of education might get more Tory retweets than say, criminal justice.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Any - and I mean any - other media organisation would kill for these numbers.
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Any - and I mean any - other media organisation would kill for these numbers.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
The BBC: quite a big deal.
November 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The BBC: quite a big deal.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Politics UK: ‘NEW: Nigel Farage says he spoke to Donald Trump about the BBC bias and he was "absolutely enraged"
"I did speak to Donald Trump on Friday and to say that he was angry would be an understatement"’
From LBC.
"I did speak to Donald Trump on Friday and to say that he was angry would be an understatement"’
From LBC.
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Politics UK: ‘NEW: Nigel Farage says he spoke to Donald Trump about the BBC bias and he was "absolutely enraged"
"I did speak to Donald Trump on Friday and to say that he was angry would be an understatement"’
From LBC.
"I did speak to Donald Trump on Friday and to say that he was angry would be an understatement"’
From LBC.
‘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”.’
“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 10:22 AM
“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/
Reposted by Laura Phillips
This is a substantive study into the costs of Brexit and adds to the evidence that the cost as estimated by the OBR of 4% GDP is accurate or perhaps an under-statement - which also tallies with people's perceptions. The UK has simply become less competitive.
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This is a substantive study into the costs of Brexit and adds to the evidence that the cost as estimated by the OBR of 4% GDP is accurate or perhaps an under-statement - which also tallies with people's perceptions. The UK has simply become less competitive.