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
"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
They have had Votes at 16 in Scotland for almost ten years. Citizenship education is already a compulsory part of the curriculum for KS3 and 4. That's 11-16. Are we really saying building in knowledge of how democracy works is a bad thing, when most of it is before they are even eligible to vote?
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 AM
They have had Votes at 16 in Scotland for almost ten years. Citizenship education is already a compulsory part of the curriculum for KS3 and 4. That's 11-16. Are we really saying building in knowledge of how democracy works is a bad thing, when most of it is before they are even eligible to vote?
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
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
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?