THE BBC IS A GOVERNMENT TOOL BIASED AGAINST ENGLAND

The BBC is now fully engaged without misgivings in the promotion of Scotland's culture, history, national pride and national identity. It hasn't just adapted itself to Scottish devolution, it is now playing a very pro-active part in its development and expansion. In itself there is no harm in that. However, the BBC is not doing the same for England even though English licence payers provide 85% of the BBC's income, indeed of the financial resources available to BBC Scotland.

On Tuesday September 22nd from 8 to 9pm BBC 4 presented a very informative and absorbing account of the life of Robert Bruce, his resistance to English rule, his victory over both Edward 1st and Edward 2nd of England, his achievement in establishing the independent kingdom of Scotland. The programme was presented by the strongly patriotic Oliver Neil of 'Coast' fame with his usual very admirable articulation and clarity. It had the added fascination of revealing, indeed it focussed on, the crucial part played by Scotland's Catholic hierarchy in support of Robert Bruce and in achieving Scottish independence.

'However', says Michael Knowles head of the CEP Media Unit, in his email bulletin to members, 'there is much more to this than meets the eye. The programme wasn't just history. It was history narrative with a purpose. There was balance, of course there was. Oliver did not spare Robert Bruce with his strictures. The cruelty and brutality of the man were unsparingly exposed. However, the fundamental theme wasn't Robert Bruce. The fundamental agenda was Scotland, its history, its resistance to England, its declarations, its role and its meaning for the Scottish people of today, a Scottish people now facing the choice about to be presented to it by its own Scottish government of remaining in a union with the same England that was as defined in relation to Scotland in the 13th century as it is today. That was what this programme was explictly about. It merits a second showing in order to enable viewers to perceive its agenda.

'I am not critical of the BBC presenting this sort of programme which is just one part of a much bigger BBC series on Scotland. There are many very good reasons to use the licence fee to promote national identity and a sense of patriotism, and to provide education -in a most fascinating and gripping way- in the history of Scotland. Indeed, BBC Scotland now exists primarily to promote Scotland and things Scottish.

'However, the English licence payer provides 85% of the BBC licence income. Yet there is no BBC England. The BBC admamantly refuses even to contemplate one. Its bias against England runs deep. It will not contemplate making such programmes, inspired by a similar political and educational zeal and patriotism, about England -its history and its culture. It is the most influential cultural power and influence in the UK. It should use its power in a balanced way. This island of ours consists of three distinct and ancient nations. Politically and culturally it is now returning to its historic roots. That is the time we live in. It is a tide that cannot be turned back. As it stands at present, the BBC is an agent for distortion when it should be a main agent, possibly the main agent, for a fair and balanced development of the forces about to shape this island's future.'


Michael Knowles CEP Media Unit. Tel: 01260 271139 email: michael-knowles@tiscali.co.uk

We must not forget that it is the British that are denying England its political recognition, the British MPs we have sent to parliament to represent England, it is these who are to blame. Until we have our own English MPs not British MPs representing England nothing is going to change.


Fight against British Racism – Fight against racism directed against England and the English