Post by vandamme on Aug 15, 2007 12:03:21 GMT
I always knew that the BBC were non-partisan when it came to politics and I always knew the social engineering aimed squarely at kids' TV, well here you have it rolled into one:
Would any other pro-labour message be allowed out, nope, so they are becoming so lax with there pro-labour stance they let out a Freudian slip!
BBC apology as Blue Peter star Konnie shares 'Tory-bashing' stage with Mayor
By LUKE SALKELD
Last updated at 18:15pm on 15th August 2007
Comments (9)
Blunder: Huq with the Mayor at what was considered a 'Tory-bashing' event
A Blue Peter presenter has sparked fury by sharing a "Tory-bashing" platform with London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
The BBC was forced to issue yet another apology after Konnie Huq attended the launch of a campaign hosted by Mr Livingstone, who is accused of using the event to "rant" against his opponents.
Miss Huq's presence has been seen by critics as an inappropriate display of impartiality and support for the Labour politician.
After an official complaint from furious Tories the BBC was forced to issue a humiliating apology - and then insisted the corporation was not to blame.
Instead they claimed Miss Huq, 31, defied executives who ruled her attendance - for which she is understood to have been paid around £1,000 - would be inappropriate.
In a letter to Tory activists, deputy director-general Mark Byford said: "The BBC had turned this down on the grounds that it would be unsuitable for her and Blue Peter.
"It was felt that the BBC and the programme should not be linked with anything that might be construed as campaigning."
He added that the presenter's agent had "read her contract differently and booked her into it without the knowledge of the BBC."
The latest row to engulf the BBC came after Mr Livingstone, who faces an election battle against Boris Johnson next year, was accused of using the occasion to criticise Tory environmental policies.
Brian Coleman, Conservative member and deputy chairman of the London Assembly, explained: "The launch became a political rant.
"It is unforgivable for the BBC to allow the Blue Peter name to be lent to a political event.
"But when a presenter does so without their permission you wonder what is going on at the BBC."
He added last night: 'It would have been very naive to think this was not a political event.
"I do not know what Miss Huq's political allegiances are, and the point is that as an employee of the BBC , we should not know.
"They are supposed to be impartial and neutral. I doubt Valerie Singleton would ever have got herself into this mess."
However, Miss Huq's agent Jonathan Shalit, said his client had attended the launch purely out of good will to encourage people to get fit.
He said: "This was an entirely non-political event about helping to get Londoners cycling.
"It is totally not the BBC's or Konnie's fault. It is quite correct the BBC said no to it but I wasn't aware of that.
"All Konnie was asked to do was support a get-fit campaign. The Tories have made this into a political event."
A spokesman for the BBC said Mr Shalit had later apologised for ignoring the wishes of the BBC.
He said: "When approached by Konnie's agent the BBC turned the request down.
"Since the event the BBC has made it absolutely clear to Konnie's agent that the BBC has the final decision in these matters.
"Konnie's agent has apologised to the BBC for this incident."
Employees at the BBC are subject to strict rules over appearances and media contributions which could cast doubt over the neutrality of the corporation.
Mr Byford said that the BBC must have an "absolute veto" over outside work undertaken by presenters and this applied to Ms Huq as a "public face of the BBC".
Miss Huq, who is set to leave Blue Peter next year, has now withdrawn her support from the cycling event next month.
The former girlfriend of another of the program's presenters, Richard Bacon, who was sacked for taking cocaine, she will surpass Valerie Singleton's record to become the longest-running female presenter of the show after a ten year stint.
And her appearance at the event was not her only link with the Labour party.
Her sister Rupa, a university lecturer, was the Labour candidate for Chesham and Amersham at the last election and is still looking for a seat for the party after failing to win the Bethnal Green and Bow selection race this spring.
Last night a spokesman for the Mayor of London, said of the row surrounding the event: "There was no party political element to Konnie Huq's involvement in the launch - it was merely to promote the Freewheel, a fun, free event to encourage everyday cycling in London.
She added: "The Mayor briefly referred to Barnet's spending on cycling and the Assembly Member for Barnet's £10,000 taxi bill.
"Far from being the 'political rant' Mr Coleman suggests, this was a moment of jokey banter. It was certainly not in any way party political - no political parties were even mentioned."
Ken Livingstone, said: "It is a pity that in his sensitivity about his indefensible cab bill Brian Coleman has taken it out on a children's TV presenter who was promoting cycling in London."
By LUKE SALKELD
Last updated at 18:15pm on 15th August 2007
Comments (9)
Blunder: Huq with the Mayor at what was considered a 'Tory-bashing' event
A Blue Peter presenter has sparked fury by sharing a "Tory-bashing" platform with London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
The BBC was forced to issue yet another apology after Konnie Huq attended the launch of a campaign hosted by Mr Livingstone, who is accused of using the event to "rant" against his opponents.
Miss Huq's presence has been seen by critics as an inappropriate display of impartiality and support for the Labour politician.
After an official complaint from furious Tories the BBC was forced to issue a humiliating apology - and then insisted the corporation was not to blame.
Instead they claimed Miss Huq, 31, defied executives who ruled her attendance - for which she is understood to have been paid around £1,000 - would be inappropriate.
In a letter to Tory activists, deputy director-general Mark Byford said: "The BBC had turned this down on the grounds that it would be unsuitable for her and Blue Peter.
"It was felt that the BBC and the programme should not be linked with anything that might be construed as campaigning."
He added that the presenter's agent had "read her contract differently and booked her into it without the knowledge of the BBC."
The latest row to engulf the BBC came after Mr Livingstone, who faces an election battle against Boris Johnson next year, was accused of using the occasion to criticise Tory environmental policies.
Brian Coleman, Conservative member and deputy chairman of the London Assembly, explained: "The launch became a political rant.
"It is unforgivable for the BBC to allow the Blue Peter name to be lent to a political event.
"But when a presenter does so without their permission you wonder what is going on at the BBC."
He added last night: 'It would have been very naive to think this was not a political event.
"I do not know what Miss Huq's political allegiances are, and the point is that as an employee of the BBC , we should not know.
"They are supposed to be impartial and neutral. I doubt Valerie Singleton would ever have got herself into this mess."
However, Miss Huq's agent Jonathan Shalit, said his client had attended the launch purely out of good will to encourage people to get fit.
He said: "This was an entirely non-political event about helping to get Londoners cycling.
"It is totally not the BBC's or Konnie's fault. It is quite correct the BBC said no to it but I wasn't aware of that.
"All Konnie was asked to do was support a get-fit campaign. The Tories have made this into a political event."
A spokesman for the BBC said Mr Shalit had later apologised for ignoring the wishes of the BBC.
He said: "When approached by Konnie's agent the BBC turned the request down.
"Since the event the BBC has made it absolutely clear to Konnie's agent that the BBC has the final decision in these matters.
"Konnie's agent has apologised to the BBC for this incident."
Employees at the BBC are subject to strict rules over appearances and media contributions which could cast doubt over the neutrality of the corporation.
Mr Byford said that the BBC must have an "absolute veto" over outside work undertaken by presenters and this applied to Ms Huq as a "public face of the BBC".
Miss Huq, who is set to leave Blue Peter next year, has now withdrawn her support from the cycling event next month.
The former girlfriend of another of the program's presenters, Richard Bacon, who was sacked for taking cocaine, she will surpass Valerie Singleton's record to become the longest-running female presenter of the show after a ten year stint.
And her appearance at the event was not her only link with the Labour party.
Her sister Rupa, a university lecturer, was the Labour candidate for Chesham and Amersham at the last election and is still looking for a seat for the party after failing to win the Bethnal Green and Bow selection race this spring.
Last night a spokesman for the Mayor of London, said of the row surrounding the event: "There was no party political element to Konnie Huq's involvement in the launch - it was merely to promote the Freewheel, a fun, free event to encourage everyday cycling in London.
She added: "The Mayor briefly referred to Barnet's spending on cycling and the Assembly Member for Barnet's £10,000 taxi bill.
"Far from being the 'political rant' Mr Coleman suggests, this was a moment of jokey banter. It was certainly not in any way party political - no political parties were even mentioned."
Ken Livingstone, said: "It is a pity that in his sensitivity about his indefensible cab bill Brian Coleman has taken it out on a children's TV presenter who was promoting cycling in London."
Would any other pro-labour message be allowed out, nope, so they are becoming so lax with there pro-labour stance they let out a Freudian slip!
