Complaint to the BBC re: Lib Dem bias, 17th April 2010

So, I've just written a complain about BBC Dateline London. I have no problem with opinion and criticism, but it really is time for the BBC to pull it's socks up and treat all parties fairly. If they're going to be part of the push to scrutinise Lib Dem policy more carefully then they also ought to give them the same right of reply that the two main parties receive. Hell, that should be happening ANYWAY.

I've just been watching Dateline London, horrified to see that a significant proportion of air time was given to a woman that works for a Conservative supporting broadsheet to attack the Lib Dem's without a Lib Dem supporting individual given appropriate time to answer her criticisms and, unfortunately lies.

For example she claims that it is Lib Dem policy to "cut spending on everything". I paraphrase, but clearly she has misrepresented to the British public the policy of "do not protect any budgets" as "cut spending on everything". This is an untruth that was not given to anyone to debunk or explain.

She further went on to presume to tell the British public what they were thinking. This isn't so bad, it's her opinion. But again no individual was given the opportunity on an equal airtime basis to stand up for those that consider themselves Lib Dem supporters who would be insulted by that insinuation.

Finally she described, from her own analysis, the poll results as the people "joking" to shake up the two main parties. Again, no problem with her having this opinion but far from anyone being able to argue from the opposite perspective the host of BBC Dateline London actually seemed to solidify this analysis by comparing the latest poll results to the public voting for John Sergeant in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

During this election period, where you are having panel members that are clearly biased towards one party, you must include other panellists that are likely to be an opposite voice for the British people AND give them the opportunity to criticise the biased views of their fellow panellists.

I assume that it will be avaiable to watch again soon.

Edit: I have a response

I shouldn't be surprised but the BBC haven't addressed my main complaint which is that someone on their program actually LIED about Lib Dem policy and no-one was there to ensure that was rebuked. It had nothing to do with the Lib Dem response over the course of the day, it's to do with individual "debate" shows having no people to defend claims being made, falsely, by people with vested interests.

Dear Mr Griffin

Thanks for your e-mail regarding the BBC News channel on the 24 March.

Please accept our apologies for the delay in replying. We know our
correspondents appreciate a quick response and we're sorry you've had to
wait on this occasion.

We understand you felt that the Liberal Democrat response was given
insufficient coverage and you felt this displayed bias.

The live Budget programme on BBC Two and the BBC News channel broadcast
Nick Clegg's Commons speech in full, as well as live interviews with
Charles Kennedy and the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman Jeremy Browne.

All subsequent coverage on TV, radio and online featured the Liberal
Democrats' response.

With this in mind we can't agree that our Budget coverage on this day was
biased against the Liberal Democrats or that it did not give them
sufficient coverage.

We'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on our audience
log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile
daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC,
and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all
other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.

Regards

BBC Complaints