rod bates
@rodbates.bsky.social
socialist,dog lover,from each according to their abilities to each according to their needs
Reposted by rod bates
Reposted by rod bates
Maybe, maybe, there is a counterfactual involving a UK with no BBC that performs worse politically. But there is no doubt at all that there are counterfactuals involving a UK without the BBC that performs better.
The 'how much worse will things be without the BBC' folks never answer this.
The 'how much worse will things be without the BBC' folks never answer this.
In the last decade, the BBC has legitimised climate change denialism, paved the way for Brexit, defended the coup that was prorogation, over-platformed Farage's Far Right projects, and is neutral on our abandonment of human rights norms.
What is this 'good' it supposedly does?
What is this 'good' it supposedly does?
November 11, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Maybe, maybe, there is a counterfactual involving a UK with no BBC that performs worse politically. But there is no doubt at all that there are counterfactuals involving a UK without the BBC that performs better.
The 'how much worse will things be without the BBC' folks never answer this.
The 'how much worse will things be without the BBC' folks never answer this.
Reposted by rod bates
UK Lawyers for Israel - aka 'shadowy lawyers working for a foreign power to suppress free speech in our country' - they look like they've run out of road. The law may be catching up with them - how ironic.
November 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
UK Lawyers for Israel - aka 'shadowy lawyers working for a foreign power to suppress free speech in our country' - they look like they've run out of road. The law may be catching up with them - how ironic.
Reposted by rod bates
if you’re wondering what TV & radio would look like without the bbc if the right had its way, picture the state of our privatised rivers & seas, but instead it’s raw sewage pumped into your telly & speakers
November 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
if you’re wondering what TV & radio would look like without the bbc if the right had its way, picture the state of our privatised rivers & seas, but instead it’s raw sewage pumped into your telly & speakers
Reposted by rod bates
#PoliticsLive
That's Samir Shah, one of the authors of Boris Johnson's fake race report, and who was appointed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
But sure, the BBC is full of lefties. 🙄
That's Samir Shah, one of the authors of Boris Johnson's fake race report, and who was appointed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
But sure, the BBC is full of lefties. 🙄
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
#PoliticsLive
That's Samir Shah, one of the authors of Boris Johnson's fake race report, and who was appointed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
But sure, the BBC is full of lefties. 🙄
That's Samir Shah, one of the authors of Boris Johnson's fake race report, and who was appointed by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
But sure, the BBC is full of lefties. 🙄
Reposted by rod bates
A remarkable choice of booking...
BBC slammed for asking Kelvin Mackenzie about journalism standards
Liverpool fans and others staggered by choice to invite former S*n editor on to discuss ongoing issues at the BBC
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
A remarkable choice of booking...
My favourite clip from CH4 is of Alex Thompson doorstepping Kelvin MacKenzie. Katie Razzall of #BBCVerify if you have to rely on a quote on ethics from Kevin MacKenzie you are definiteley in the wrong job.
You have to be completely ignorant of history if you glowingly quote Kelvin MacKenzie on journalistic ethics. Apparently Katie Razzall is that person. #bbcnews
November 10, 2025 at 1:59 PM
My favourite clip from CH4 is of Alex Thompson doorstepping Kelvin MacKenzie. Katie Razzall of #BBCVerify if you have to rely on a quote on ethics from Kevin MacKenzie you are definiteley in the wrong job.
Reposted by rod bates
You have to be completely ignorant of history if you glowingly quote Kelvin MacKenzie on journalistic ethics. Apparently Katie Razzall is that person. #bbcnews
November 10, 2025 at 12:42 PM
You have to be completely ignorant of history if you glowingly quote Kelvin MacKenzie on journalistic ethics. Apparently Katie Razzall is that person. #bbcnews
Reposted by rod bates
Trump - the king of fake news and hypocrite extraordinaire - has the gall to welcome someone else’s resignation… we’re talking about a man convicted of rape and of tax fraud - who did not resign and never would. Incredible. And btw, I resent his interference in our media and our country.
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Trump - the king of fake news and hypocrite extraordinaire - has the gall to welcome someone else’s resignation… we’re talking about a man convicted of rape and of tax fraud - who did not resign and never would. Incredible. And btw, I resent his interference in our media and our country.
Reposted by rod bates
Kent’s fire authority is in disarray, the @fbunational.bsky.social says
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/fire...
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/fire...
Fire Brigades Union slams Reform in Kent for causing "threat to public safety"
Reform UK’s councillor suspensions have left the council’s fire authority unable to function properly
leftfootforward.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Kent’s fire authority is in disarray, the @fbunational.bsky.social says
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/fire...
leftfootforward.org/2025/11/fire...
Reposted by rod bates
The UK Labour Party defines itself as a "democratic socialist" part in the first sentence of Clause IV. And has since the 1990s.
That's how woeful the BBC claiming it's a term with no definition is. Good grief.
That's how woeful the BBC claiming it's a term with no definition is. Good grief.
I don't know what is more depressing. That the BBC seems to have no clue what democratic socialism is or that someone who comments on politics for a living thinks it's the same as communism.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
November 6, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The UK Labour Party defines itself as a "democratic socialist" part in the first sentence of Clause IV. And has since the 1990s.
That's how woeful the BBC claiming it's a term with no definition is. Good grief.
That's how woeful the BBC claiming it's a term with no definition is. Good grief.
Reposted by rod bates
I have a radical idea.
Ban polling, at least on the question of how people would vote at the next national election, until 18 months before it takes place.
I am only half-joking.
Ban polling, at least on the question of how people would vote at the next national election, until 18 months before it takes place.
I am only half-joking.
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I have a radical idea.
Ban polling, at least on the question of how people would vote at the next national election, until 18 months before it takes place.
I am only half-joking.
Ban polling, at least on the question of how people would vote at the next national election, until 18 months before it takes place.
I am only half-joking.
surely there be an honest whistleblower among you?
Is anyone at the BBC willing to leak directives from editors to find negative stories about asylum seekers?
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
surely there be an honest whistleblower among you?
Reposted by rod bates
Is anyone at the BBC willing to leak directives from editors to find negative stories about asylum seekers?
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Is anyone at the BBC willing to leak directives from editors to find negative stories about asylum seekers?
And had to release the news on #PoliticsLive good old #HenryZeffman had that honour, Its as if the #BBCNews team had prior notice? Ah the humiliation of it all the baton of the thickest tory MP passes from #HelenWhateley to #JamesCartlidge whose failure to count to 6 surpasses even that of Helen.
Who informed the Telegraph and the Tory’s about this apparent ‘foreign’ prisoner on the loose? Are prison guards on the payroll of the Telegraph ? It’s such an odd situation playing out in plain sight
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
And had to release the news on #PoliticsLive good old #HenryZeffman had that honour, Its as if the #BBCNews team had prior notice? Ah the humiliation of it all the baton of the thickest tory MP passes from #HelenWhateley to #JamesCartlidge whose failure to count to 6 surpasses even that of Helen.
Reposted by rod bates
Who informed the Telegraph and the Tory’s about this apparent ‘foreign’ prisoner on the loose? Are prison guards on the payroll of the Telegraph ? It’s such an odd situation playing out in plain sight
November 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Who informed the Telegraph and the Tory’s about this apparent ‘foreign’ prisoner on the loose? Are prison guards on the payroll of the Telegraph ? It’s such an odd situation playing out in plain sight
Reposted by rod bates
There's no way these vape shops just popped up when the Labour government came in.
Where were these #BBCNews 'special investigations' two years ago?
#AsylumSeekerNews only started putting undercover journalists in shops after Labour came in.
It's a joke.
Where were these #BBCNews 'special investigations' two years ago?
#AsylumSeekerNews only started putting undercover journalists in shops after Labour came in.
It's a joke.
November 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
There's no way these vape shops just popped up when the Labour government came in.
Where were these #BBCNews 'special investigations' two years ago?
#AsylumSeekerNews only started putting undercover journalists in shops after Labour came in.
It's a joke.
Where were these #BBCNews 'special investigations' two years ago?
#AsylumSeekerNews only started putting undercover journalists in shops after Labour came in.
It's a joke.
Reposted by rod bates
To be fair, they’re losing MPs at a much faster rate.
One in twenty Reform councillors elected in May 2025 has left by the Autumn
- half expelled/suspended
- a quarter resigned from council
- some defected
An "unusual rate" of attrition in 6 months, says Tony Travers
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
- half expelled/suspended
- a quarter resigned from council
- some defected
An "unusual rate" of attrition in 6 months, says Tony Travers
www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reform Is Losing Councillors Elected In May At An 'Unusual' Rate
Reform UK has lost more than 5 per cent of the councillors it had elected six months ago, an analysis by PoliticsHome has found.
www.politicshome.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
To be fair, they’re losing MPs at a much faster rate.
you would think so but I'm betting it will be high on the agenda of both newsnight and question time in their joint quest to undermine anything labour does
October 30, 2025 at 10:01 PM
you would think so but I'm betting it will be high on the agenda of both newsnight and question time in their joint quest to undermine anything labour does
Reposted by rod bates
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...
That’s the end of that then!
That’s the end of that then!
Letting agent apologises to Reeves for not applying for rental licence on her behalf
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c2...
That’s the end of that then!
That’s the end of that then!
Reposted by rod bates
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
October 30, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.
They are not the same.
Reposted by rod bates
Poor Kemi.
New - Harvey & Wheeler, the estate agents used by Rachel Reeves to rent out her property have apologised for an "oversight" after they did not apply for a licence on her behalf, having offered to do so.
October 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Poor Kemi.
Same in the UK only we call it family income supplement, it's just a con to allow businesses to pay their workers less. Taxpayers are subsidising the rich to pay their workers less.
October 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Same in the UK only we call it family income supplement, it's just a con to allow businesses to pay their workers less. Taxpayers are subsidising the rich to pay their workers less.
Reposted by rod bates
Reposted by rod bates
Another week another #Spiked contributor on #BBC #PoliticsLive. This week Tom Slater, its editor. As always no context into their contrarian shock jock hard right agenda which has been underwritten financially by the Trumpian billionaire Charles Koch.
October 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Another week another #Spiked contributor on #BBC #PoliticsLive. This week Tom Slater, its editor. As always no context into their contrarian shock jock hard right agenda which has been underwritten financially by the Trumpian billionaire Charles Koch.