Richard Murphy in huge spat with BBC presenter over 'pro-Union bias'
Midway through an extensive discussion on impartiality at the BBC, Murphy came onto the programme to say he did not have confidence in the BBC, highlighting that the 'nationalist community' does not trust the broadcaster because it is 'so absolutely pro-Unionist'.
After former BBC political editor Brian Taylor was brought back into the discussion – having spoken on the programme already – alongside ex-BBC Radio 4 presenter Roger Bolton, Murphy and McLaughlin then got into a heated back-and-forth.
READ MORE: Media expert raises fears over BBC Gaza documentary review
When Murphy was brought in to have his 'final word', he said: 'We've gone on for 40-plus minutes and all I've heard so far is pro-BBC propaganda from the BBC.'
McLaughlin then interrupted to say: 'Well not really because they've allowed you to speak.'
'No, let me finish Connie please,' Murphy then said.
McLaughlin then hit back saying: 'Richard, come on.'
Murphy then said he had just heard a programme 'which is entirely about how good the BBC is from BBC editors and producers' which he claimed is 'bias'.
McLaughlin interrupted him again saying: 'Have you not been speaking on the programme for the last eight minutes or so because I don't think then that's accurate?'
(Image: Ian West/PA Wire) Murphy then said: 'Every time I do, you interrupt me Connie and you are not interrupting your BBC colleagues.'
McLaughlin said it was 'not fair' for Murphy to make that accusation as she warned him that he had a minute and a half left to speak.
'The BBC is biased in favour of big business, it is biased in favour of the right wing media because it uses that as its news sources in the main for discussion, it is biased against the nationalist cause in Scotland, it is biased against the Palestinian cause in its claim and its right to have a state, it is biased in favour of Israel very clearly,' Murphy concluded.
McLaughlin replied: 'Thank you for that, you've had your say and hopefully you think you had enough time there.'
The squabble had been preceded by Murphy clashing with Taylor after the economist claimed Taylor had said he had never heard any complaints about BBC bias in his time at the broadcaster.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories in cronyism row as THIRD ex-spin doctor gets public cash
Taylor clarified that he had said he was 'never at any point asked within the BBC by managers to tailor a report to fit an agenda dictated by the BBC' adding that he had witnessed 'endless complaints' about BBC Scotland coverage.
But Murphy hit back by claiming the BBC bases its news agenda on a printed press heavily skewed in favour of the Union.
He said: 'You're saying there's never been an instruction but let's look at how the BBC constructs so much of its news output.
'Almost every day the BBC's news agenda is tailored by what is in the media, the rest of the media, in particular the printed media.
'Have you noticed the bias in the printed media in Scotland? There is one pro-independence newspaper and a raft of those who are opposed.
'So, if the BBC reflects equally each of the newspapers, the nationalist cause does not get represented.'
McLaughlin said: 'The purpose of the BBC is not to reflect every newspaper out there.'
The BBC has come under fire from a variety of angles after an independent review found it had breached an accuracy guideline in failing to disclose that the narrator of a documentary on Gaza was the son of a Hamas official.
However, the report also concluded that in terms of the programme's content, there were no issues with accuracy, fairness or impartiality.
The BBC has also sacked both MasterChef presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode, following a review into the behaviour of Wallace.
The report, commissioned by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, alongside two standalone allegations made against other people, including one for using racist language.
Wallace was sacked by the BBC last week.
In a post on Instagram, Torode confirmed he was the person alleged to have used racist language but said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation.
Torode has been told his contract on MasterChef will not be renewed on Tuesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
31 minutes ago
- The National
Pro-independence politicians respond to John Swinney's strategy
The First Minister set out his three point strategy in an op-ed for The National on Friday, prompting a furious response from Unionist politicians who accused him of pressing the 'panic independence button'. Swinney said the SNP's strategy would focus on building support for independence, upping the pressure on Westminster to allow Scotland to assert its right to choose through a democratic referendum, and urging the public to vote [[SNP]] at the election. The National asked both the Scottish Greens and Alba for their assessment of Swinney's strategy. READ MORE: John Swinney: Why I'm launching a renewed strategy for independence [[Scottish Greens]] MSP Patrick Harvie said describing the plan as a strategy would be 'stretching the definition of the word'. 'This is just a party leader asking you to vote for his party,' he told The National. 'There's far more to the independence movement than the SNP. That was true in 2014, and it's just as true today. 'We see it in the growing support for the Scottish Greens, in all the unaligned campaign groups across the country, and in the creative and diverse ideas for Scotland's future, which will never belong to any one political party.' Harvie (below) added that polling, unlike in 2014, shows the majority are 'coming to support independence'. 'We are winning that argument because it aligns with what people see in their lives every day. It isn't just an electoral strategy for the SNP, it's building a better future for all of us,' he said. 'The politics of hope, as a contrast to the dangerous and divisive ideas driving UK politics, will be our strongest argument.' (Image: PA) Meanwhile, Alba depute leader Neale Hanvey said: 'The First Minister's three-point plan is utterly hollow. 'There's no strategy there, just the same old song of waiting for the right moment, hoping for a miracle.' Hanvey added that it was 'apparent' Westminster would not give the go ahead for a second referendum. 'Therefore, we must grasp the thistle and take the initiative,' he added. 'The independence movement is fragmented and crying out for leadership and unity. 'The way to achieve unity is for each of the pro-independence parties to include a pledge in their manifestos that a majority of votes cast for pro-independence parties will constitute a mandate for independence. 'That is the way to achieve unity and ignite the independence movement.' Numerous SNP politicians have shared Swinney's strategy on social media, many without comment. Former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard wrote: 'This is a good positive start. Objectives set. Now we need to agree the means by which we achieve them. 'Crucially, how do we turn up the heat on the UK to force acceptance of our right to self determination. Time to get involved.' Graeme Dey, the higher education minister, said: 'The SNP will resolutely make the case for Scotland to be an independent nation. 'No matter who takes power in London, Scotland is an afterthought. Independence will put the people of Scotland in the driving seat of our destiny.' READ MORE: Speakers announced for Edinburgh Gaza protest on Saturday Mhairi Hunter, an [[SNP]] councillor and Nicola Sturgeon's former campaign manager, hit out at some of the response to the strategy, suggesting that those who see the [[SNP]] as a 'roadblock' to independence are 'bonkers'. 'Everyone is frustrated by this but to take that frustration out on John Swinney or the [[SNP]] is ludicrous,' she said on social media. 'The UK Gov strategy is to refuse to engage on any talk of independence in the hope people will become disillusioned & ultimately give up.' However, others were not as positive. Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, sharing the reaction from The National's columnists to the strategy, said: 'I share the views of these unconvinced campaigners that there's nothing new in John Swinney's independence strategy. "As I have argued for years without fresh thinking, consulting the wider movement and a proper reset, it is doomed to fail.' (Image: Contributed) And an SNP source from the party's left wing told The National: 'We need much more than this.' While they agreed that voting for the SNP was 'essential' to winning independence, they said the strategy needed to be clearer. Noting Westminster's repeated refusal to allow a second referendum, they said: 'He must be much more direct than this. 'We need to go down the de facto route, saying – you vote SNP, you're voting for us to start negotiations for an independent nation that seeks recognition. "Precisely because we are blocked from doing it the 'constitutional way'.'
Spectator
an hour ago
- Spectator
Jenrick accuses Yusuf of ‘bulls**t' over Twitter post
Never mind uniting the right, there's more talk of fighting the right today as the feud between Tory MP Robert Jenrick and Reform's Zia Yusuf ramps up. Yusuf has spent this week pointing blame at Jenrick over the Ministry of Defence leak – but now Reform's head of DOGE is under fire after being caught liking a post that attacked Jenrick for having a Jewish wife. Dear oh dear… Yusuf was caught having liked a controversial post on Twitter after the account 'Enoch_Is_Right' shared a screen recording of the Reform man's interaction with the post. The tweet read: Reminder that Jenrick is a traitorous Zogbot with a Jewish wife and family. I'm sure it's unrelated that he imported infinite brown savages to rape our women and children. The word 'zogbot' is a derogatory term for a Zionist. Good heavens. The circulating clip has prompted calls for Reform to suspend its former chairman, who is now in charge of clamping down on waste in local council areas. Yusuf has since apologised for liking the post, writing on Twitter: One of the team who post to my X account accidentally pressed like on an awful antisemitic tweet earlier today. I apologise for this. The post also refers to 'brown savages', and is equally racist against me. Clearly it was not intentional. The amount of antisemitism and racism on this platform is spiralling out of control, and I hope that changes soon. But it's not won over Jenrick. The shadow justice secretary wasn't impressed by Yusuf's explanation, fuming: I call bulls**t. You've spent the last 48 hours calling me a 'traitor' for not drawing attention to a leaked spreadsheet with our special forces and MI6 officers' names on. ut we're meant to believe this tweet attacking me as a traitor for having a Jewish wife & family was liked 'accidentally' by 'one of the team.' You must think we're all thick. No. The mask has slipped. Likes are private. You thought nobody would ever know. Unfortunately for you, the racist account who posted the tweet and could see the likes exposed you. Reform should give you the boot. The gloves are coming off! It's not the first time Yusuf has found himself at the centre of controversy this week – after Rael Braverman, husband of Suella, quit Reform over the head of DOGE's attacks on the ex-Tory home secretary about the Afghan leak. Earlier today, Rael took to Twitter to clarify his reasons for leaving, writing: 'I left Reform because I cannot be in a party 'led' by Zia Yusuf.' Will Reform's leadership step in? Watch this space…
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
UK welcome for Israeli military chief responsible for Gaza slaughter
Major General Tomer Bar, the head of the Israeli Air Force, landed in Britain on Thursday afternoon, reportedly to attend a conference hosted by the Royal Air Force in Gloucester. He has been in post throughout the genocide in Gaza and since April, has approved all aerial attacks, ynet news reported. READ MORE: Activist slams 'draconian' law as protester arrested at Palestine Action demo Bar was reportedly forced to stamp his authority on air force operations amid growing unease in the ranks about the brutally high levels of civilian deaths. He is attending the Royal International Air Tattoo event at RAF Fairford, north of Swindon, which began on Friday and ends on Sunday. According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, he is in the UK for 'a series of meetings with air force commanders'. (Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) It comes amid growing pressure on the Labour government to take action against Israel as the death toll continues to rise from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign of destruction in [[Gaza]] and from growing settler violence against Arabs in the West Bank. The Israeli military has killed Palestinian children who were trying to access drinking water. Netanyahu is reportedly pressing ahead with plans to herd Palestinians into a concentration camp to be built on the ruins of the city of Rafah – plans that have received widespread condemnation, even from the UK and within Israel. READ MORE: Legal complaint filed after armed police threaten woman for holding Palestine flag The Israeli prime minister is demanding that the plans are made cheaper and carried out more quickly, according to Al Jazeera but is undeterred by criticism. The Ministry of Defence and the Royal International Air Tattoo were approached for comment.
