Times letters: BBC coverage of Glastonbury hate chants

Times

2 days ago

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Sir, What a great many of us really find 'appalling', to use the prime minister's word to describe the nonsense spouted at a music festival by a band very few had previously heard of and even fewer will remember next week, is that he is more outspoken in his condemnation of this futile and forgettable puerility than he has ever been about the Israeli regime's killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians, including those desperately queueing for aid.Richard BryantLondon N16
Sir, I confess to being baffled by the criticism of the BBC for continuing to broadcast Bob Vylan at Glastonbury when the band's singer started to lead a chant of 'death to the IDF' ('BBC 'should have pulled coverage of hate chants' ', news, Jun 30). When a newsworthy event (as this clearly was) occurs during a live broadcast, surely cutting the feed is the last thing a broadcaster should do? It can hardly be interpreted as some form of endorsement.Thomas SaundersLondon NW8
Sir, The call for the deaths of IDF soldiers is to be condemned — it was shameful and inexcusable. However, it was also almost to be expected given the continuing killing of Gazans by Israel, which is just as inexcusable. In his comment article ('A broadcasting failure that spread despair — and fear', Jun 30), Danny Cohen blames the BBC and the organisers of Glastonbury but omits to mention the continuing attacks on Gaza.
We need to get things in perspective.Alan WattPontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Sir, It is outrageous for anyone to suggest that the BBC should censor events as they happen. The event was broadcast live; taking it off air would have given even more publicity to this evil rant. The BBC should not, under any circumstances, be a party to censorship; the honesty of its output would never be trusted again if it were.Stafford TrendallOverton, Hants
Sir, Bobby Vylan must be thrilled that not only was his venomous chanting on stage featured on the BBC but also on the front page of several national newspapers. As a friend of many Jewish people I am horrified that this publicity was given to him.Gill DavidsonLondon W4
Sir, Surely the blame for inciting violence lies squarely with the performers; the BBC and Glastonbury Festival organisers should not be held responsible for lyrics. A heavy penalty or custody might make performers think twice about what messages they intend putting across.Sarah HardenPenrith, Cumbria
Sir, If the politicians scrambling to condemn a minor pop group at Glastonbury had stayed their outrage for a few minutes they would have seen, in the same news broadcast, the bodies of children being brought out of the rubble in Gaza, killed by . . . the IDF.Peter CotterillSprotbrough, S Yorks
Sir, The BBC has always been one of the best things about living in Britain. However, after the toxic racist-antisemitic chanting at Glastonbury, surely, at the very least, the corporation should lose its monopoly of broadcasting live from the music festival, given that it is clearly incapable of exercising that right responsibly.Jeffrey DavisRotherfield, E Sussex
Sir, Martha's Rule has become a very important factor in the improvement of NHS medical care ('Martha's Rule helps hospitals to save 129 lives in six months', Jun 30). The parents of Bethan James are also making a hugely important contribution to patient safety. It is of considerable concern that there were 2,389 calls for second opinions in the first six months of Martha's Rule and 465 led to a change in care, possibly saving life. Why were all these first opinions (more than two a day) so flawed? This is not a trivial issue: lives were saved that would otherwise have been lost. Clearly there is a systemic problem here, just as there appears to be with maternity services.
As a consultant surgeon with 50 years of experience, I would suggest two reasons: first, there is a lack of continuity of care because junior doctors are bound by the European Working Time Directive to work no more than 48 hours a week. Second, the British Medical Association has become obsessed with political issues and has totally lost the plot with respect to improving medical practice and saving lives.
We in the medical profession should be very grateful to the Mills and James families for striving to improve medical care in the NHS.Robin Allum FRCSConsultant orthopaedic surgeon, Farnham Common, Bucks
Sir, Further to the letters (Jun 28) from Dr Jane Philip and Catherine Sedgwick, at present it is up to general practices to triage patients for the physician associate. There appear to be no rules governing this. I have seen some anxious patients after the physician associate made an incorrect diagnosis, gave a wrong interpretation of facts or missed a serious problem, and did not ask for help from a doctor. As physician associates do not have a medical background I have seen unnecessary expensive tests ordered. None of these physician associates have had a medical school interview to assess whether they are suitable to work as a doctor, ie a character assessment.Dr Rosemary Alexander MRCPLocum NHS GP and private doctor, London NW9
Sir, Helen Millichap, the new national lead for violence against women and girls, is welcome proof that the government is determined to meet its pledge of halving violence against women by 2030 ('Meet the Met officer leading the war on violence against women', Jun 30). Millichap's aim to develop intelligence-led tactics to target domestic abusers as well as rapists and stalkers is timely: many senior police are concerned that after a few years in the post, many of their officers are suffering from 'domestic abuse fatigue'. On average every officer will be called out once a day to a 'domestic' and too often these end up with a victim refusing to report their abuser, or to leave or prosecute them. This discourages the police, who seek a just outcome.
To address this 'fatigue' we are collaborating with Thames Valley police and its landmark Behavioural Science Unit to train 48 officers in handling domestic abuse victims. The latter may give confused and confusing testimonies, and it may take time to follow through with a prosecution, but victims who have a positive encounter with the police gain the courage and confidence to act. Police, too, need to gain confidence and recognise that as first responders they can be life-savers.Cristina OdoneCEO, Fair Hearing
Sir, Fraser Nelson succinctly points out the problems with the Department for Work and Pensions arrangements for claims for sickness benefit ('How Kendall can stop this national sickness', Jun 28). Part of these problems appear to relate to a feeling of fear of telling the claimant that they are not entitled to the benefit. Some years ago I went for an interview for the job of becoming an assessor, and I failed to get the job. When I inquired why I had not been taken on, I was told that my answer to the question of 'What would you say to a candidate, whom you had seen marching easily up the hill on your way here, when he claimed he could not walk?' had counted against me. I had suggested a further medical assessment but the correct answer, so I was told, was that you believe exactly what the candidate tells you.
It would seem that little has changed over the years.Karin Englehart MRCPBrentford, Middx
Sir, When our prime minister explains the shambles over welfare legislation by his being distracted by foreign affairs, he displays a misunderstanding of his role ('Starmer's first year is worst start ever for a PM, says polling guru', Jun 30). He is not supposed to be seeing to everything himself but setting the overall direction of his government and trusting the ministers he has chosen to get on with business in their allotted areas. If, while he is quite properly fronting up government efforts in one direction, a minister in another area messes up, then his responsibility is to replace that minister with someone more competent.Terence CoghlinDitchling, E Sussex
Sir, Joanna Williams states the heart of the Church of England's problem ('Only turning to God can make CofE relevant', comment, Jun 30). If Jesus did not die on a Roman cross and rise from the dead three days later, according to the remarkably well-attested biblical accounts, then there is no Christian gospel to save anyone; there is no hope. This is the primary message and must be at the forefront of the Church of England's mission. Where it is at the forefront, churches (in my experience) are growing, and even having to fit in more Sunday services to accommodate the numbers.David MonroChair of trustees, Gafcon International; London EC1
Sir, Trevor Phillips compares the present government with 'a liberal pressure group, adrift from its roots, blown hither and thither by the breeze of fashionable opinion' ('How Keir's feeble grip on power got weaker', Jun 30). As Joanna Williams points out in the same edition, much the same can be said about Church of England bishops.Gordon ElliotBurford, Oxon
Sir, Both the England Cricket Board (ECB) and Sports Medicine Australia have published guidelines for play in hot conditions. The two documents could not be more different. The Australian one gives specific guidance as to what constitutes low, medium, high and extreme risk conditions based on temperature and humidity forecasts given by the national meteorological office, and offers guidance on how to cope with such conditions. In contrast the ECB document is wishy-washy, leaving it up to the match organisers/officials to decide whether the conditions warrant special playing conditions, even though they have had no specific training in assessing extreme weather.Martin VlietstraCricket umpire; Fleet, Hants
Sir, You mention the mission to make crosswords an Olympic sport ('Cryptic fans square off for first world title', news, Jun 29). Although this idea might surprise many, it should be seen in context. From 1912 to 1948 art competitions were included in the Olympic Games, and included architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. More recently chess was an exhibition event at the 2000 Olympics.Nigel à BrassardSports historian, London SW7
Sir, While I agree with Emma Duncan's recommendation to replace your Birkin with a sturdy Waitrose bag for life (Notebook, Jun 30), I've seen an even stronger recommendation of their utility. Their robustness makes them not only the carrier bag of choice for rough sleepers but also for shoplifters nipping into Sainsbury's on Kilburn High Road to raid the wine and spirits aisle then leg it with their booty secure. Both Hermès and Waitrose bags may denote an ability to circumvent the penalties of taxation.Lesley SmithLondon NW6
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