THE BBC has come under fire for an interview it has broadcast with far-right figure Steve Bannon.
In an interview for Radio 4, a video excerpt of which has been posted on the BBC website, the former White House chief strategist told North American editor Jon Sopel that the UK hasn’t seen the “beginning of the turmoil yet”.
The interview appeared to be set up exactly as Bannon would have wanted in order to maintain his “macho” image: on the US-Mexican border with jeep in the background adorned with the Stars and Stripes.
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Bannon was instrumental in the election of Donald Trump as US president and has described the Breitbart website – of which he is a former executive chairman – as “the platform for the alt-right”.
Last October, when speaking at the annual meeting of the French far-right party the National Front, Bannon said that those who are called “racists” “misogynists” “homophobes” and “xenophobes” by their critics because they are winning the argument.
He called for the crowd to wear such labels as “a badge of honour”.
Last year First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pulled out of a conference appearance after learning that Steve Bannon was also due to speak at the event.
Following his BBC interview earlier today, critics have been quick to ask why he is being given a platform by the corporation.
Economist journalist Anne McElvoy, tweeted that people like Bannon should be given airtime as long as they are scrutinised effectively.
“[T]he creeping desire to push people a certain group don’t want to hear from off the airwaves is a generally bad trend,” she tweeted.
“Do the best interview we can as broadcasters and challenge what they have to say.”
John Burn-Murdoch, a journalist with the Financial Times, challenged her view, responding: “With respect, this — on Bannon — is an old media take that simply doesn't work today.
With respect, this — on Bannon — is an old media take that simply doesn't work today.
— John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) July 31, 2019
Today, even a good, challenging interview (which this wasn't) will be selectively cut and edited by Bannon's team so that his fans get to see a version where the BBC is "biased", and he "wins". https://t.co/UYXbkDfCti
“Today, even a good, challenging interview (which this wasn't) will be selectively cut and edited by Bannon's team so that his fans get to see a version where the BBC is ‘biased’, and he ‘wins’.”
He continued: “The idea that simply not interviewing him is ‘no-platforming’ him or censoring him is nonsense. Every day, thousands of important people are not interviewed by the BBC.
“Not interviewing someone is the default.”
Tv and comedy writer James Felton backed-up the point, tweeting: “Hi I’m a BBC journalist. So far interviewing racist after racist after racist to expose their racism hasn’t made people go “huh these racists are pretty bad” and racism go away but I’ve got a pretty good feeling about this next one.”
Hi I’m a BBC journalist. So far interviewing racist after racist after racist to expose their racism hasn’t made people go “huh these racists are pretty bad” and racism go away but I’ve got a pretty good feeling about this next one.
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) July 31, 2019
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