Not everyone's favourite Auntie

One of the prominent stories on the BBC Politics page today centres around a row between Number 10 and the producers of the BBC's "Question Time" programme.  The crux of the matter is that the Government refused to allow a Minister to appear on the programme if Labour spin-doctor, Alastair Campbell was to sit on the panel as Labour representative.

I shall start with a brief primer for my International readers who might not see what all this fuss is about.

Question Time is a weekly political show broadcast by the BBC.  It centres around topical debate with a panel of five; consisting of a representative of each of the three major political parties (Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem), and two non-partisan representatives.  The BBC itself (the British Broadcasting Corporation) is a public service broadcaster which operates under a mandate from the Queen.  It is funded via a TV License Fee which is payable by all UK citizens who use equipment to watch live broadcasts; the level of this fee is set by the Government.  Because of the way it is funded and operated, the BBC has a strict remit to be politically neutral; a remit which it is often accused of breaching.

Alastair Campbell is one of Labour's "star players".  Although he has not been elected by anyone he holds great power within the Labour Party in his position as strategist and spin-doctor.  He deals not with policy, instead manipulating the press in order to present the best public image for the party.

Given that this was the week of the Queen's Speech and therefore the debate would have, naturally, centred around the plans of the Coalition Government for the next eighteen months, I cannot see why the BBC would have asked a spin-doctor to represent the Labour Party rather than one of Labour's own front-benchers, who would have a much better grasp on matters of policy and would be much better placed to enter into constructive debate with a Conservative Minister.

I fully support the decision of Downing Street not to send a Minister, especially when the intentions of the BBC are so obvious.  It is clear, that by asking Campbell to represent the Labour Party, they were merely providing a stage for him to spout forth (again) about how many people have supposedly decided to join the Labour Party in the last week rather than provide any reasoned debate on Coalition policies.  That, and the fact that he has a new book out soon too...

If that wasn't enough, one of the "non-partisan" members of the panel was none other than well-known leftie and Labour supporter, Piers Morgan.  With those two appointments to the panel, any suggestion of political neutrality went straight out of the window and I commend the Conservative Party for having the guts to stand up to the BBC and say "no".

Of course, the backlash from the BBC (and Alastair Campbell) has already begun in earnest, with the BBC trying to take the moral high-ground by stating that they will not have terms dictated to them by the Government.  Surely though, this smacks of something to do with pots and kettles, with the BBC now effectively dictating terms to the Government.

In my mind, yes, the Government was dictating to the BBC.  Not terms, but merely reminding them of their duty to present a level political playing-field, and not just a mouthpiece for more Labour spin.

Over the next five years I sincerely hope that the Coalition will stand up to the BBC and bring an end to their years of acting as Labour's faithful lap-dog, and I hope that this first stand is a sign of things to come.