Monday 2nd October 2006.
BBC TV news at 6:00pm
The focus of tonight's early evening news broadcast swung away from the platform to the fringe events and beyond as BBC TV struggled to find good material to support its desired storyline on continued splits within the Conservative Party.
As I watched the plain background displayed just two words - tax row. Cue the opening presenter: "A number of senior party officials have challenged David Cameron's position on tax..."
Hang on a minute, I thought to myself. What did he say? A number of senior party officials? A number? Haven't I come across that particular bit of civil servant speak before, possibly in 'Yes, Minister' where Jim Hacker's ever-faithful PPS explains to his master how HM Treasury reports are written? Does the following sound familiar:
Bernard: "Minister, if HM Treasury receives more than five responses to the consultation, then they have received 'many responses'. Between two and five responses are described as 'several'"
Hacker: "And what if there is just one response?"
Bernard: "That would correctly be described as 'a number of responses' Minister.
Hacker: "A number? [*FX* splutters] But there was only one!"
Bernard: "One is a number, Minister."
So, it seems despite the BBC's very best efforts to create division, there is overwhelming support for David Cameron's 'softly, softly' approach to policy development. As commented on yesterday, he is wise to ensure that firm foundations of principled conservatism exist before attempting to lay the bricks of individual policies.
Back to the fringe. Lord Tebbit - described as the leader of this Tory peasant's revolt - may have drawn sustained applause from his audience for desiring to reduce taxes by leaving the EU, but it was clear only a fraction of the conference delegates bothered to attend.
All in all, I was much more encouraged by today's news report. Perhaps tomorrow will see BBC TV reporting on the actual meat of the conference - and getting it right.
I've been off sick from work today (no really !) and I've flicked between BBC Parliament and News 24. I'm usually a defender of the BBC but their efforts today have been pathetic. All morning they led on the fact that a Tory donor was interviewed in July.Wow what a story!!! Then we've had the spectacle of the presenters repeatedly trying to encourage John Redwood to fall out with the leadership over tax' he refused,much to their obvious consternation.Then finally onto the Telegraph debate on Tax (most other debates were ignored on News At Ten) and then focused only on the arguments from one side.Yes you've got it, Lord Tebbit and Heffer (ugh),what a suprise!So fair, so just, the BBC-not.
Posted by: malcolm | October 02, 2006 at 10:37 PM