Betsan Bloop of the Beeb

Posted on November 21st, 2006 filed in Politics, Wales, Welsh Assembly

There goes another blooper by BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys…

On the BBC’s flagship Wales Today news programme the Political Editor of BBC Wales reports from the steps of the Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff Bay on the proposals made today by “the Government”.

It is not clear which “government” Betsan Powys refers to. If she refers to the Welsh Assembly Government, she should call it “the Welsh Assembly Government” or “Assembly Government”.

As the Assembly Government is a subservient partner to the Westminster Government, it seems outrageous that the BBC Wales Political Editor should portray today’s news story as if the Assembly Government was THE Government of the people of Wales.

The news story being covered today was the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to the review carried out by Sir Jeremy Beecham.

If you trace the genesis of the news story reported, it is clear in every report and release that the facts are presented accurately, in other words, the Welsh Assembly Government is called precisely that, the Welsh Assembly Government.

Everyone enjoys a good televised blooper, a rib-tickling mistake made live on air, but Betsan’s blooping is no laughing matter. The BBC is funded by the taxpayer and has a Royal Charter Agreement that binds them to “treat controversial subjects with due accuracy and impartiality”.

In relation to the Welsh Assembly the BBC are clearly failing to abide by the Agreement. Martin Shipton and many other journalists have mused on this overweening confidence of the new political class emerging in Cardiff Bay.

If we can put ourselves in Betsan Powys’ dainty shoes for a moment, perhaps we might see differently according to her perspective : She is simply reporting the truth as she sees it. Betsan Powys is part of an extremely aspirational Welsh bourgeoisie who have gained considerable wealth under Thatcher and her heir, Tony Blair. Not content with the Devolution settlement as it stands, this nouveaux riche want more… ultimately a parliament with full law-making powers which they can call “the Government”.

Betsan Powys blooping for the BBC is years ahead of her time.