Not like the rest at all ?

[Richard Barrett]

Perhaps all the rest is, too...tell me it is!

Denying that Farage is xenophobic (and presumably also denying that he's sexist and homophobic too); that "British culture" has changed radically over the centuries and indeed during the previous one; that UKIP is a symptom of a poisonous far-right populist tendency in Europe as a whole (despite Farage's recent choice of foreign chums in Brussels); and that a party that espouses "British values", run by an ex-public schoolboy ex-stockbroker in a suit who is a serial liar, is basically rather similar to "the rest" and particularly the Tories... this all seems like it could be an elaborate hoax to wind us all up.

[jean]

That's what I was beginning to think.

I hope I'm right.

[Beef Oven!]

This is wonderful!

If someone has a different view of the world, it must be an elaborate hoax!

Is there a royal society for groupthink?

[jean]

Oh well, the illusion was nice while it lasted.

[Richard Barrett]

If someone has a different view of the world, it must be an elaborate hoax!

Not quite. If someone has a different view from the facts, they're either mistaken or being deliberately misleading. I don't think I have any more to say at this point.

[Anna]

Farage and UKIP have been given an easy ride by the media and the BBC in particular, he (or his spokesman) have appeared on countess Question Time, Andrew Marr, Andrew Neil, etc. So is anyone up for a conspiracy theory?

"Many can see that the BBC has in the past few years has taken on the role of State broadcaster. Whether this was as a result of a decision taken within the BBC, or a role taken on at the behest of others, need not bother us here. This change has manifested itself in the plethora of programmes now prefixed by ‘Great British’ and the clear bias in reporting the Scottish referendum debate. So the question has to be, why is the BBC giving a free ride to this threat to the established order, portraying Farage as a good egg who enjoys a pint and a ciggie? I’m open to suggestions, but my belief is that we are witnessing here the ‘elastic theory’ in practice; by which I mean, Ukip is being used to legitimise certain issues that were previously taboo, or the preserve of extremists, and therby move political debate to the Right. From the confusion created by this shift will soon emerge – to steal Ukip’s clothes – a ‘repositioned’ Conservative Party. There may even be a place for the unquestionably popular Nigel Farage in the New Conservative Party. Either way, it will mean the end of Ukip as a major political force."

(taken from Jaco'thenorth's website)

[Beef Oven!]

Farage and UKIP have been given an easy ride by the media and the BBC in particular, he (or his spokesman) have appeared on countess Question Time, Andrew Marr, Andrew Neil, etc. So is anyone up for a conspiracy theory?

"Many can see that the BBC has in the past few years has taken on the role of State broadcaster. Whether this was as a result of a decision taken within the BBC, or a role taken on at the behest of others, need not bother us here. This change has manifested itself in the plethora of programmes now prefixed by ‘Great British’ and the clear bias in reporting the Scottish referendum debate. So the question has to be, why is the BBC giving a free ride to this threat to the established order, portraying Farage as a good egg who enjoys a pint and a ciggie? I’m open to suggestions, but my belief is that we are witnessing here the ‘elastic theory’ in practice; by which I mean, Ukip is being used to legitimise certain issues that were previously taboo, or the preserve of extremists, and therby move political debate to the Right. From the confusion created by this shift will soon emerge – to steal Ukip’s clothes – a ‘repositioned’ Conservative Party. There may even be a place for the unquestionably popular Nigel Farage in the New Conservative Party. Either way, it will mean the end of Ukip as a major political force."

(taken from Jaco'thenorth's website)

They have been given such licence, it beggars belief. But conspiracy theory? I hate those. There must be an explanation.

[jean]

I don't believe there's any conspiracy.

Nigel Farage in all his awfulness is good copy, that's all.

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyone remember a time when the "centre" of British politics argued over how many council houses and flats being built could win general elections? Or when a Tory government nationalised its main aircraft engine manufacturer?

[jean]

The post-war consensus.

I don't deny that the whole of political discourse is moving to the right. I don't deny that this suits the Tories or that Labour sees the voters that they've got to attract in marginal constituencies as unlikely to be living in council houses (thanks to MT.)

I just don't believe it's a conspiracy the BBC are part of.

[french frank]

I just don't believe it's a conspiracy the BBC are part of.

One needs to gather the contradicting views that the BBC is left-wing and the BBC is right-wing; though in the end it will probably depend on whether you believe the Spectator and the Daily Mail or the Guardian and the Independent.

I'm not sure how the direction of 'political discourse' works - does it reflect government thinking or anti-government thinking? Or either, depending?

[Serial_Apologist]

I well remember the welcome setting up of the The Glasgow Media group in the 1970s as an antidote to political bias, and watchdog on how ways the media framed news presentation favoured certain interest groups at the expense of others. Good to see it still in existence:

http://www.glasgowmediagroup.org

[teamsaint]

The post-war consensus.

I don't deny that the whole of political discourse is moving to the right. I don't deny that this suits the Tories or that Labour sees the voters that they've got to attract in marginal constituencies as unlikely to be living in council houses (thanks to MT.)

I just don't believe it's a conspiracy the BBC are part of.

If that move is happening, there must be reasons. Somebody is driving an agenda. It really doesn't matter if you call it a conspiracy or not.

I am not sure "conspiracy theory" is a very helpful phrase anyway.

[Serial_Apologist]

http://www.glasgowmediagroup.org/images/stories/pdf/artgdn.pdf

[MrGongGong]

All people, MrGG?

you missed your generalising bit before that