Latest news with #BBCQuestionTime
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Question Time called out as Reform councillor on St Andrews panel
Thomas Kerr, a Glasgow councillor who defected from the Tories, is due to take part in the flagship debate programme on Thursday night from St Andrews. All of Reform UK's Scottish politicians are defectors from the Tories or Scottish Labour. They have not won an election north of the Border. Kerr will join Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Tory MP Andrew Bowie and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch on the programme. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment A number of social media users pointed out that both the Scottish Greens and Scottish LibDems have more elected representatives than Reform, but are not as frequently platformed by the broadcaster. Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: 'Reform and the politics they represent are a direct threat to Scotland. We all saw what they were really about during the Hamilton by-election – where they ran a campaign of hate-fuelled prejudice and misinformation, showing themselves to be a racist, far-right party. 'Long before his rise in the opinion polls, the BBC gave Nigel Farage an extraordinarily high profile, as one of the most regular faces at the Question Time table. Now, they are doing the same in Scotland where his latest political vehicle has never had so much as a local councillor elected. 'It is frankly bizarre that the BBC has chosen to platform a representative of a party with zero electoral track record, and a party whose politics have been shown to be dishonest, divisive and dangerous.' Tomorrow, Question Time is in St Andrews Joining Fiona are Anas Sarwar, Andrew Bowie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Thomas Kerr, and Lesley Riddoch 9pm on the @BBCNews channel, @BBCiPlayer and @BBCSounds, or @BBCOne at 10:40pm Apply now: — BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) June 25, 2025 A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'Question Time is a national programme which must be relevant to audiences across the UK and reflect a wide range of political views. "We continue to seek a range of views when Question Time comes to Scotland and across this series, our panels have had representation from the various political parties, including the Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats. 'We also take account of the most recent electoral performance and electoral movement since the election. "Reform have consistently polled strongly all across the UK and in a recent Scottish Parliamentary by-election (Hamilton, Rutherglen and Stonehouse), Reform polled 26% of the vote, and finished third, behind Labour and SNP.' Kerr's inclusion on the programme sparked a strong reaction online. SNP MSP James Dornan said: 'Once again we see the once unknown Tory councillor Thomas Kerr on BBC. I have no doubt at all that him deserting that sinking ship to join Reform had absolutely nothing to do with it of course.' Scottish Greens Glasgow councillor Jon Molyneux added: 'Thomas Kerr has more time for TV cameras than he does for his constituents. He's not contributed to a council meeting for six months. 'Too much like hard work or running scared? He should do the job taxpayers pay him for and open up his snake oil to proper scrutiny.' READ MORE: SNP MPs join Labour rebels in bid to kill off benefit cuts On social media user said: 'When was the last time, BBC Question Time had a 'councillor' from a political party? They are so desperate to platform Reform.' Another added: 'Reform, again. No elected representatives in Scotland, but let's promote them anyway at the expense of the other parties who do have elected politicians.' One said simply: 'Again where are the Liberal Democrats or the Greens, Might as well just call it the Reform show #bbcbias.' It comes as a new MRP poll from YouGov, released on Thursday morning, predicted Reform winning three Westminster seats in Scotland.
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
BBC should not show Kneecap's Glastonbury set, says Culture Secretary
Speaking on Politics Live, Nandy agreed with Keir Starmer, who said it was not "appropriate" for the band to play the festival after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in London in November last year. Last week, the 27-year-old, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. READ MORE: Who is on tonight's BBC Question Time panel in St Andrews? He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. Nandy said: 'This is a band who have thrived on the oxygen of publicity, and as well as the terrorist offences, there have been very serious comments they've made encouraging attacks on elected members of parliament, not from my own party, but it is my job to stand up against that.' When questioned whether the BBC should cover the band's set, she said: 'It's horrific – personally I do not want to see that on TV screens.'
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Who is on BBC Question Time tonight in St Andrews?
This week's programme is in St Andrews, where host Fiona Bruce will be joined by a range of panelists from across the political spectrum. Here's everything you need to know. Who is on BBC Question Time tonight? Appearing on tonight's programme are: Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour Andrew Bowie, Scottish Conservatives Shirley-Anne Somerville, SNP Thomas Kerr, Reform UK Lesley Riddoch, journalist and broadcaster READ MORE: MSPs pass legislation to abolish Scotland's exams body How to watch BBC Question Time The programme will air at 9pm on the BBC News channel, as well as on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. Alternatively, you can also watch the programme on BBC One at 10.40pm. The BBC Question Time Twitter/X account (@bbcquestiontime) will also share clips from the programme.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Baffled Question Time viewers call out glaring issue with BBC panel in special episode
Baffled Question Time viewers called out a glaring issue with the BBC panel in a special episode on Thursday. The most recent instalment of the programme saw Fiona Bruce, 61, return to our screens to host a special about the challenges of growing up in the 21st century. She was joined by headmistress Katharine Birbalsingh, 52, Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, 46, YouTuber TommyInnit, 21, the secretary of state for science and technology Peter Kyle, 54, and MP Lord Willetts, 69. While watching, some viewers shared how odd they thought it was that only one person on the panel was under the age of 45. Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts. 'I thought the Youth focused #bbcqt was a great and overdue idea. Until I saw the panel had an average age older than me.' 'Next generation you say?' 'Why is there only 1 actual youngish person on this panel? Comedy.' 'The average age of the panellists debating what it's like being young in Britain today? 48. Farcical.' At the start of the episode, Fiona said: 'For tonight's question time, we're asking a specially convened panel and audience about the challenges of growing up in the 21st century and what it means for all of us. 'Roughly half our audience is from what very generation - under 30 or mostly Gen Z and the rest are just a little bit older, but like every other week, they reflect the range of political views across the country. 'Welcome to Question Time - the next generation - from Greenford in West London on BBC, iPlayer and Sounds.' Despite their ages, the guests do all have their own opinions from their fields about the matter. Katharine Birbalsingh is a headteacher at the Michaela Community School. Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts She is known to be the 'UK's strictest headmistress'. Meanwhile Jack's latest Netflix hit Adolescence hit headlines earlier this year. Back in April it was revealed that 114 million people had watched the drama - which follows the story of a boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who murdered his female classmate. It brought misogyny among young boys to light. TommyInnit - real name Thomas Michael Simons - has 15.1M subscribers on YouTube. Meanwhile Peter Kyle and Lord Willetts are figures in the political sphere.
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Minister agrees small boats crossings mainly men after Question Time claim
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury faced criticism for his remarks on the BBC's Question Time and sought to clarify that he was referring to a single boat that arrived when he visited the UK Border Security Command. Writing on social media site X, Mr Jones said: 'Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men – but not 'north of 90%' as Reform claimed. Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men – but not 'north of 90%' as Reform claimed. On @bbcquestiontime I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and… — Darren Jones MP (@darrenpjones) June 13, 2025 'On BBC Question Time, I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and babies who had suffered horrific burns. 'I'm happy to clarify this given how this is now being misrepresented.' Mr Jones said on Thursday's Question Time that 'the majority of the people in these boats are children, babies and women'. PA news agency analysis of Home Office data indicates that adult males made up 73% of small boat arrivals from January 2018 to March 2025 where details of age and sex were recorded. A further 9% of these arrivals were adult females and 16% were under 18. Speaking on the BBC programme, Mr Jones said that the Government had been returning people, and also spoke about a visit to the Border Security Command. 'When you're there on the site seeing these dinghies put together by these organised criminal gangs which are clearly not safe, and when you see that the majority of people in these boats are children, babies and women…' he said. He later added: 'When there are babies and children put into that position by human trafficking gangs who are coming across on the Channel with skin burns from the oil from those boats mixing with the salt seawater. 'I would ask any of you to look at those babies and children and say 'go back where you came from'.' He also said that the immigration system was 'left out of control' by the Conservatives. Asked about Mr Jones's comments, a Number 10 spokesman said on Friday: 'The Government is absolutely focused on tackling these vile smuggling gangs that risk lives in the Channel.' Asked if the Prime Minister had confidence in Mr Jones, the spokesman said: 'Yes.' The Conservatives accused Mr Jones of being 'completely out of touch with reality'. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'No wonder this is shaping up to be the worst year on record for small boat crossings. 'If this is what passes for reality inside the Labour Government, Britain is in serious trouble.' People were pictured arriving in Dover on Friday. Figures up to Thursday indicated that 15,264 people have arrived on small boats so far in 2025. The most on a single day this year was recorded on May 31, when 1,195 people arrived across 19 boats.
