“I’m amazed people put up with the licence fee, says BBC’s Tim Davie”
The Sturgeon ‘event’ is no longer front page news and so our glorious MSM are back to hand-wringing over the missing woman. The broadsheets also have a dig at Sunak ‘flying to Belfast to save Brexit’ or summink like that. Thank God ‘staff’ at Auntie B has got our favourite, the Star, back! Their front page doesn’t disappoint – scroll all the way down in the usual place (link)! You’ll be happy to learn that 91% of us wake up in the middle of the night while 13% are ‘too tired for rumpy pumpy’. Doesn’t that mean 87% are up for it? Outstanding!
One other ‘event’ has made it onto the front pages of the online editions: the US comics series ‘South Park’ has made an episode ridiculing yon couple now living in Montecito. You can read all about it in the DM (link) which isn’t paywalled. Apparently, it’s hilarious.
Staying with the telly, particularly our beloved BBC, the DT has got hold of an audio tape of a speech the Beeb’s director Tim Davie gave to his ‘journalists’. The Times and the DM duly copied the report, the headlines are unsurprisingly very similar. Here they are, in order of their publishing timestamps, firstly The Times:: “I’m amazed people put up with the licence fee, says BBC’s Tim Davie” (link, paywalled), then the DM: “BBC Director boasts it is ‘truly amazing’ the broadcaster is ‘pulling off’ forcing households to pay the licence fee” (link).
Here is the original: “‘Truly amazing what we’re pulling off’ in forcing people to pay BBC licence fee, says Tim Davie” (paywalled link). Yes, he really said that! See the quote from the horses’ mouth, in the original report: (this and the following emphases are all mine):
“Speaking to staff at a meeting on Tuesday, Tim Davie said it was “glorious” that the BBC had “better budgets than some of the commercial operators” and did not “need to make a profit on everything. It’s truly amazing what we’re pulling off by the way,” he said. “That most households are pretty happy paying a licence being a forced payment. It’s amazing what we’re pulling off.” (paywalled link)
Only those floating in the stratospheric levels of mediadom can think that being forced to pay the telly tax means that ‘households are pretty happy’ to do so! After all, serfs and plebs have no choice but to be ‘happy’ to pay yon telly tax because non-payment will always be punished. Of course “we” are even happier when we digest the following:
“In Sept 2021, Mr Davie’s annual salary rose from £450,000 to £525,000, an increase of 16.6 per cent. It came after pensioners lost free television licences as the corporation sought to make £1 billion worth of cuts. “You know I get extremely well paid,” he added. “But everyone in my top team takes a lot less money that they can get.” (paywalled link)
This obviously means he could’ve got more than the cool half-million quid he’s receiving from the pockets of old-age pensioners who don’t know how how to cancel their telly tax or are too scared to do so. And then there’s this:
“Mr Davie also addressed the issue of bias. He said: “There’s a whole load of waffle talked about, you know, the Left. It’s not largely a Left or Right thing at the moment, it’s social issues, it’s rural affairs, what you think about the countryside, what you think about climate change, what you think about diversity.” Describing the BBC as “incredibly important to democracy”, he also suggested that corporation staff are underpaid – saying: “We’re in a fight for something, that’s why you work for the BBC, that’s why people take less money coming here.” (paywalled link)
Remember – he’s addressing BBC staff. Thus, when he emphasised that the Beeb is about ‘what you think’ there couldn’t be a clearer declaration that objective reporting of fact isn’t what the Beeb requires, but personal opinions. Thus, when he says they’re ‘in a fight’ he acknowledges that they’re partisan activists. Proper journalism it most certainly isn’t!
And so to ‘war news’ – or ‘military economics’, if you like. Since the report is in Remain Central, one might also file it under ‘we should’ve stayed in the EU’. Ben Wallace was at the NATO meeting in Brussels where he warned
“[…] of a threat to Nato standards if sourcing from EU-only industry was placed before strategic military requirements. He told defence ministers during talks in Brussels that both Britain and Norway were European, playing a key role in Nato supply chains, without being part of the EU, and that breaking up procurement along the bloc’s membership lines would undermine the alliance.” (link, paywalled)
And why is Mr Wallace so concerned? Because the EU agreed at a meeting last week to aim at setting up:
“[a] Covid-style procurement to increase production of ammunition with the aim of emulating the gearing up of Pfizer and European coronavirus vaccine production at the start of the pandemic. Under the plans the European Central Bank could be used to raise large sums to place orders big enough to incentivise defence industries to increase production. Brussels would centralise all orders, allowing economies of scale for governments to replenish stocks depleted by deliveries to Ukraine.” (link, paywalled)
Those of us whose memories go back further than last Tuesday recall the mess the EU made of yon ‘vaccine production’, with dirty deals allegedly having taken place between Pfizer and Ms vdL whom the New York Times is trying to subpoena to publish her emails on yon deal (link). So Mr Wallace’s warning is not that far-fetched, especially in view of this:
“Although Germany and Poland, like Britain, back procurement of the best munitions and equipment regardless of where they are made, other countries want to channel cash to support their national industries. France, Italy and Spain support using the procurement plan to favour industries in their countries and the EU, especially relating to investment and building factories.” (link, paywalled)
Never mind that this is yet another ‘jam tomorrow’ proposal. After all, given the current economic situation, one might ask how long it’ll take to build said factories, never mind staffing them and supplying them with raw materials. One might also ask if the EU thinks that the war in the Ukraine will drag on until all those factories are standing and producing. Still, Starmer visited yon war-torn country, promising yon president undying support and help for yon war (link, paywalled), so it’ll drag on and on and on.
That’s all I have for today. I do wonder why ‘Teh Left’ isn’t up in arms over Davie’s ‘salary’, squeezed out of the wallets of ‘Teh Poor’ … Have a good day.
CH- Borassic lint – skint. You being from the Souf East like me, should know that! Next you will say you cant find your Arris!!
The query was not directed solely at youself. Previously, you made similar reply comments about cost and support, without quantifying. I’m guessing printing and administration and such is mainly a matter of spons. Its the backup brigade I would see as a problem.
BTW-Good post on conditional discharge.
Biscotte…..yeah that’s me ed innit? Also the fence outside-Arris Rail fence. But I am not cockney although I do use the phrase ‘turkish bath’ meaning laugh quite often. Anyway, not too much sign of the Currant Bun outside and my Jam Jar needs a wash You’ve hit the nail on the head, to get anywhere electorally, one needs serious back up. As Viv said the other day this translates to ‘boots on the ground’ Without that you haven’t got a hope in hell, and anyone standing without it would be chucking money down the drain.
I am very grateful for the research and opinion pieces that you produce Viv, and the many commentators on this site which generally think the way I do. Despite the crazy world we are living in I take solace in the fact there are like-minded people who understand many of the evils we are being bombarded with.
I do read everything and come back a couple of times a day to check for more comments but a couple of days ago I had a freak accident (nobody else involved and I wasn’t injured) but badly damaged my car which may be written off. It’s the first time it has happened to me and was more of a shock than anything. I don’t mention this for sympathy but it does mean that I won’t be making so many comments for the moment whilst it is all being sorted out by my insurance company who have actually been extremely efficient so far.
I can well imagine the shock, Lisa – and the aftermaths specially at this time of inflation. So you do have all my sympathy anyway, and I hope it can be sorted fairly quickly!
Sorry to hear of your accident Lisa – take it easy and get well soon.
Now a judge taking the side of protesters:
https://www.gbnews.uk/news/just-stop-oil-protesters-told-by-judge-they-should-feel-proud-as-he-refuses-to-send-convicts-to-prison-it-has-been-a-pleasure-dealing-with-you/444237
Our country is being destroyed from within. At the very least Judge Wilkinson should be fired.
Lets get things into perspective here, a conditional discharge is indeed a criminal conviction, so for an offender who has never been found guilty of an offence at court before will end up with a CRO number and the conviction will be recorded as such on the Police National Computer under their name. It is not a ‘get out of jail free card’ scenario as some people think. For someone who has been found guilty of other offences at court on previous occasions the conditional discharge will be added to their record. So if these ‘just stop oil’ people go out committing further offences whatever those offences may be and end up at court and found guilty, they will be sentenced on that new offence(s) in ADDITION to the conditional discharge. In my experience most first timers at court when found guilty are given Conditional Discharge sentences. I hope this explains all. However having said that Judges are not there to take sides or make political judgements and should remain neutral.
For interest – Northern / Ireland Betting
United Ireland before 1st Jan 2030
• Vote on Irish Unification to pass before Jan 1st 2030
7/2
Jack T and PoS, you two are scathing about the GB party system.
Are either of you (or any another on this board) thinking of standing? And is it too late to get things together for a tilt?
Colin H says he is borassic and in any case in his 80s and worn out (I think that is what he said).
Biscotte…………..you’ve said all this before, and have copy and pasted the same words from the previous posting. I looked up ‘borassic’ and found that the word doesn’t exist. In addition to this I am not in my 80’s and have never said I am worn out, although I have stood for election six times for UKIP as an Independent. It has crossed my mind to stand as an Heritage Party candidate in the local elections, but to be honest if I did so I wouldn’t want to approach it as a ‘paper candidate’ and do no work apart from completing the Nomination Paters and getting 10 signatures together, but would want to do it properly and run a proper campaign with a leaflet with canvassing. However, I would be by myself though and one cannot run an effective election campaign on your tod. Besides which, it would cost in the region of £500.00 for the leaflets alone which would be borne out of my own pocket, and to be quite frank that money would be better spent on things around the house. Minor parties like Heritage Party have not got that sort of money available. When I stood for election s a candidate with UKIP we had a local branch and a bank account that had thousands of pounds within it which was used to finance election campaigns and we had an enthusiastic activist base. Those days have unfortunately gone. I am still deeply critical of the GB party system but as it stands at the present time there is no single party on the political right who has sufficient political or financial clout to make a decent fist of it. Insofar as Reform UK is concerned, well, I wouldn’t waste my time with it.
“I looked up ‘borassic’ and found that the word doesn’t exist.” True, but Biscotte meant boracic.
Boracic lint is a type of medical dressing made from surgical lint that is soaked in a hot, saturated solution of boracic acid and glycerine and then left …
Boracic Lint = Skint me old China.
POS………ohhhhhhhhhh!!! Well, thanks for that Dr. Phil. Boracic Lint I have heard of, but didn’t think to link the two. Wait a minute, the Dog and Bone is ringing……
Good points Colin.
Sadly I am not physically up to it in several ways, hence manning the keyboard. But you have me wrong I think; I am scathing about the Lib/Lab/Con/SNP/WEF/Gates/Blackrock party and Reform has too many policy holes and lacks a popular focus. But though the FPTP system may distort results, with PR I think we should be careful what we wish for. Blair’s reforms all made a poor system worse, added huge permanent costs, and did him no good at all, and certainly not us. The law of unintended consequences. With PR a permanent (ill)liberal/socialist/marxist coalition would almost certainly dominate with roles and policies decided by horse trading party agendas rather than national priorities. I know you can say we already have that with in-party factions, but not on the scale it would be. That’s my feeling anyway.
I am as amazed as the BBC Director that the majority keep paying their licence fee! I haven’t paid mine for 13 or 14 years now. Mind you I do put the reminders in my compost bin so I am contributing to the BBC’s sustainability campaign.
Jake……I have probably said this before but why don’t you contact the Darlington office of TV Licensing and explain the reasons why you don’t need a TV Licence as I did. I answered a whole string of questions and I told them that they quite welcome to come to my home address to check whether I had a TV in my home. I haven’t got one and what’s more they’ve never been to check, and I received an official letter stating I did not need a TV Licence together with a refund. Naturally I don’t get bombarded with reminders as you obviously do, but at some point they will definitely take things further and send you a summons through the post. Last year I had to renew my ‘do not need a TV Licence’ form which came through the post, and they have confirmed that I still do not need one. Are you signed up to BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub because if so they will be on your case at some point…
Colin. I am protesting against paying the licence fee by not paying it. I have no intention of contacting them.
Jake……don’t be surprised then if someday a summons drops through your letter box courtesy of the postman. When I was in the police this in fact happened to some people who then didn’t got to court and the Magistrates issued a ‘fail to appear’ warrant for their arrest which was backed for bail. That meant me having to arrest them and take them to the police station where they went through the booking in procedure with fingerprints and DNA taken, photograph taken and then given a date to appear at court and released on bail. Don’t say I haven’t warned you, you cant buck the system.
Colin. To issue a summons they must have a name. The. licensing authority do not have a name.
All correspondence that I receive from the BBC is directed ‘To the householder’ and that is not admissible on a summons.
Police don’t get involved in this anymore Colin. Even the BBC Director General can’t believe how many people willingly pay this anachronistic licence fee.
Since we’re talking about the BBC: and oldie but (very!) goodie:
“The BBC cannot give in to Government pressure”
Jake, its 10 years since I have retired from the police and many have changed and not for the better. Maybe you are right about the police no longer being involved in these sort of situations, but when a summons is issued to appear at court for whatever reason and that person does not appear, the police will be sent the fail to appear warrant to execute. After all they don’t send it to your local railway station to execute. The warrant used to say ‘You the Constables of (whatever police force) are required to arrest (whoever at whatever address) and bring him/her to whatever Magistrates Court immediately for having failed to appear before whatever date. Anyway the licensing authority would easily be able to establish who the occupier of your home is via the Electoral Roll and various other databases. The Director General of the BBC is obviously a very foolish person who spoke out of turn and should never have said what he said. No doubt he will be given words of advice by those above him. Just pick up that telephone and speak with Darlington and save yourself all that potential hassle. Then you will be able to sleep easier……
“one might ask how long it’ll take to build said factories, never mind staffing them and supplying them with raw materials.”
I worked in the defence industry in the run up to and during the Falklands War. Working seven days a week, we designed, knocked-up, lab and bench tested individual elements – electronics and ‘moving parts’ – as prototypes, modified and retested as necessary, built and tested final kit, and again tweaked as necessary, an upgrade to a specific piece of ordnance, in three months. No interminable meetings, no design versus manufacturing turf wars, just free flowing focus, everyone high and low with one aim. It helped that we were handsomely paid for the hours, but that was never a factor. It was tiring but exhilarating to see things go from one’s brain to reality almost before one’s eyes. It is not glorifying war to say that I had the most enjoyable period of my working life quite early on; the teamwork, the cross-discipline camaraderie and the success; the downside being that ever after I found much of management, interdepartmental one-upmanship, and rogue egos, stifling, tiresome and pettifogging. Now happily many years retired.
Short of bombs falling on this country by which time it would be way too late, I cannot see that ‘war effort’ ever happening in today’s climate for a host of reasons, both political and societal. War aside, applying that ethos to bringing fracked gas on stream a.s.a.p. would solve a host of our problems, but I really believe TPTB do not WANT to solve our problems, they are part of the plan. No other reason holds water.
So, ‘both Britain and Norway were European’.
And so the word games and re-write of the truth marches on.
Britain is in Europe. Norway is in Scandinavia. Russia is in Asia.
And in the words of Ronnie Barker ‘men are men, and women are are grateful for it’.
Sunak is not to be trusted in dealings with the EU; he is weak and a globalist. Time to end all remaining subservience to the EU. Surely imposing subservience to a foreign power is treason and worthy of the traditional penalty.
If Sunak is not careful he will be literally signing the Conservative Party’s death warrant, if as reported he has given way on the major issues and allowing judges of the European Court of Justice to decide upon disputes etc. Northern Ireland is not his personal property to give away to the European Union in any way, shape or form, and is an integral part of the United Kingdom and should remain so until the citizens of NI decide otherwise. Personally I will never vote Conservative again and the only time I’ve voted for this shambles of a party was in 2019 in order to get Brexit done, so I don’t much care if it passes into oblivion now or in the future. I am conservative in principle however, but I have never believed in the Conservative Party’s warped brand of conservatism. This country did have a truly conservative party in the form of the United Kingdom Independence Party at one time, but the masses wouldn’t give the party the benefit of the doubt and give it a try and swallowed the crap put out by the Conservatives and others that it was a disorganised and essentially racist party which was never the case. I would have thought Sunak and the Conservative Party have enough problems on their plate without giving in to the European Commission demands. If they do it will be curtains for the party and Sunak will be toast toast. Does he care though, but I fear not….
“Northern Ireland is not his personal property to give away to the European Union…”
Neither was the UK when we were taken into the “common market” as the lies described it.
Jack…………exactly. Since the DUP have announced that they will not returning to the Stormont institutions if their demands are not met with regard to the NI protocol, I think has forced Sunak into a rethink, and is now saying that much work needs to be done to get the deal over the line etc. So maybe this great announcement next week will not happen after all. He must be dafter than I thought if he thought he could just push this through with the agreement of the nationalist parties in Northern Ireland and without the agreement of the Unionists and the ERG of his own party. Instead he has been talking about doubling down on providing the Ukraine with even more weapons which will just come out of our own weaponry stockpile and thereby diminishing this country’s defence capability The man is just crazy like his predecessors. There’s no hope it seems.