Thread by @tony_nog

1) The BBC, @bbcnickrobinson and silencing the 48%
#Brexit is more in doubt today than it was yesterday, more in doubt last week than it was last year. Opposition to it has grown slowly but steadly

But you wouldn't think so watching the BBC

bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthe…

2) The BBC's Nick Robinson put out this blog in April 2017, explaining the duty of the national broadcaster. The referendum was over, Remain was no longer an option and there was therefore no requirement for the BBC to report on anything other than variations of #Brexit

3) This judgement, that Remain was dead, was certainly suspect 18 months ago. Today, with #PeoplesVote on everyone's lips and the Brexit plan in tatters it appears to be a remarkable failure from the BBC news team, who have failed in their duty to inform in a balanced fashion

3) Week after week the BBC would bring on multiple Brexit voices from Labour & the Tories and call it balance. Talking heads from pro brexit "think tanks" with shadowy funding. Even rival brexit voices from the same party.

Virtually no voices for Remain

4) despite this, the Remain movement & #PeoplesVote not only been resilient but it has grown to be all anyone is talking about. Despite having no voice on the BBC the voice is becoming a crescendo

But even this isn't the biggest failure

5) There is virtually nothing that has happened in this entire Brexit shambles that wasn't predictable & predicted by Remainers 2 years ago

The weakness of the UK's hand, the fantasies of the brexit leaders, the lack of attention to detail, the NI issue - this was all known

6) The very least the BBC can do now is to give remain the representation it's been denied so far.
Labour Brexiters vs Tory Brexiters is not balance. May deal vs No deal isn't either

7) and for God's sake Tim Martin, Oakeshott, Hartley-Brewer, Philips - these are not experts or commentators, they're just Brexit mouthpieces deployed only to repeat populist soundbites. Get Brexit expertise in, if you can find it (no easy task we know)

8) But get people on who will add to the debate, not try to shut it down:
"We had the people's vote"
"Best out of 3?"
"The EU always makes you vote again"

No-one needs to hear these soundbites any more, we need to hear proper discussion not noise and interference

9) The country was not informed before the ref and you have not informed them since. 6 audience members shouting on BBCQT every week "why can't we just leave?" is not debate nor is it helpful

Just do your job, please
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