[A-List] UK state: Scotland & BBC

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

It's not something I consider to be terribly important in and of itself, but
it is revealing of certain linkages within the UK state apparatus and for
that reason alone it is worthy of further scrutiny. A few years back there
were calls that, with the creation of the new Scottish parliament, there
should be an independently, locally produced daily news bulletin delivered
by the BBC with a specifically Scottish focus. According to the memoirs of
former BBC director general, "Lord" John Birt (Thatcher appointee from
London Weekend TV where he worked with, among others, Peter Mandelson and
Michael Maclay and Greg Dyke and Peter Jay, etc., etc.), Birt fought tooth
and nail against the "Scottish Six" because of its apparent threat to the
"integrity" of the BBC and the wider ramifications it would have
politically, threatening ultimately the "unity" of the UK itself. Now it
emerges that Blair himself was personally involved (no real surprise there,
given his manic personal involvement in anything remotely important) in
ensuring the death of the "Scottish Six". Since then, of course, Blair has
appointed Birt to his No 10 policy unit as a "blue skies" thinker (i.e.
dream up any old tosh as long as it chimes with Third Way verities and props
up the British state apparatus). While the substance of this particular
episode is, on the face of it, not so earth-shattering, there is much of
value to explore under the surface, involving just how close to the
government is the BBC (we know it is of course but a glaringly public
demonstration of such a fact will have consequences of a sort) and just what
sort of care is exercised in ensuring that the BBC projects British
ideological interests globally, as well as domestically.



Salmond wants talks on Blair and the BBC
DEBORAH SUMMERS
The Herald, 23 October 2002

THE BBC is facing questions over its integrity following allegations that
Tony Blair intervened to prevent the corporation developing a "Scottish Six"
TV news programme

Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party's Westminster leader, has written
to Greg Dyke, director general of the BBC, demanding a meeting to discuss
the revelation contained in an autobiography by John Birt, Mr Dyke's
predecessor.

In the letter, Mr Salmond said: "Mr Birt's remarks indicate that the prime
minister, Tony Blair, conspired with him to stop the 'Scottish Six' and did
so for blatantly political reasons."

Mr Salmond insisted that Mr Blair's intervention amounted to "a substantial
blow to the integrity of the BBC, its claims of independence from
government, and any notion that policy is decided on the basis of the wishes
of views".

Mr Salmond said later: "We now know that Tony Blair interfered with BBC
policy on news and current affairs programming in Scotland for political
reasons."