Thread by @steveparks

It’s just clicked.
To Brexiters, Brexit is a religion. Despite all evidence, even before their own eyes, they have ‘belief’ and must just believe stronger.

Why we’re all so frustrated with BBC News on Brexit is because they’re *reporting* it in same way they do for religion...

...what that means is that they can challenge and argue with experts with evidence and facts all day - but feel they must respect people’s beliefs. Beliefs are to be listened to, and treated reverently...

... If they interview a religious person who believes there is a heaven they are destined for if only they believe hard enough, BBC reporters don’t scoff and say ‘oh come off it, there’s no evidence whatsoever of that, and indeed all evidence suggests we get eaten by worms’...

...on religious features, they believe balance is attained by having those who believe in different versions of god, to debate the issues around their beliefs - but they don’t think about / like balancing the believers with an atheist...

...where wrong-doing is discovered and absolutely has to be reported, they don’t go and doorstep the pope until he ‘fesses up - they have ‘commentators’ debate the claims, ensuring it is respectful to the faith...

...I’ve said before that I don’t think BBC is politically biased - just that it hasn’t been prepared with staff and skills to operate in the new political climate. Maybe a key part of that is being too respectful and cautious to people’s beliefs, treating politics like religion