The BBC Thought Police

by Andrew Ash
October 30, 2019 at 4:00 am

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15004/bbc-thought-police

"The need for sensitivity in talking about religious, political or social issues has now been taken to absurd proportions... making it difficult to say anything worthwhile. The aim of Thought for the Day has changed from giving an ethical input to social and political issues to the recital of religious platitudes and the avoidance of controversy, with success measured by the absence of complaints. I believe Guru Nanak [the founder of Sikhism] and Jesus Christ, who boldly raised social concerns while stressing tolerance and respect, would not be allowed near Thought for the Day today." – Lord Indarjit Singh, The Times, October 4, 2019.
So here is another thought for the day: Why should the BBC -- or the rest of the mainstream media -- rely on journalistic accuracy, when a sensationalist misquote will do?

Celebrated interfaith activist Lord Indarjit Singh has sensationally quit BBC Radio 4 after accusing it of behaving like the "thought police". (Image source: UK Parliament)

Celebrated interfaith activist Lord Indarjit Singh has sensationally quit BBC Radio 4 after accusing it of behaving like the "thought police". He alleges that the corporation tried to prevent him discussing a historical Sikh religious figure who stood up to Muslim oppression -- in case it caused offence to Muslims, despite a lack of complaints.

The Sikh peer, who has been a contributor on Radio Four's Thought For The Day programme for more than three decades, is also accusing Radio Four bosses of "prejudice and intolerance" and over-sensitivity in relation to its coverage of Islam, after he says he was "blocked" from discussing the forced conversion of Hindus to Islam, under the Mughal emperors in 17^th century India.

The 87-year-old peer's resignation comes as a blow to the show's flagship segment, that has been a part of Radio Four's Today programme since 1970, and has been described by Britain's former chief rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, as "one of the last remaining places in the public square where religious communities are given a voice in Britain."

The segment, originally aired on November 28, 2018 -- and in spite of Singh's script containing no criticism of Islam -- is the latest in a long line of suspect BBC decisions enforced by seemingly over-zealous producers. "It was like saying to a Christian that he or she should not talk about Easter for fear of giving offence to the Jews," Singh said. There were, however, no complaints about the segment reported to OFCOM, the government approved broadcasting watchdog.

According to the Times of India:

After the senior producer's initial objections to the script, Lord Singh said he would rather the slot was left empty "than have Sikh teachings insulted in this way". "The producer in question, reluctantly agreed for the talk to go ahead, rather than have to explain why no one was in the studio that morning," he said... "I can no longer accept prejudiced and intolerant attempts by the BBC to silence key Sikh teachings on tolerance, freedom of belief and the need for us all to make ours a more cohesive and responsible society..."

It also reported that after leaving... Lord Singh complained about his treatment but a review by BBC director of radio James Purnell rejected his complaint.

According to The Times of London:

Lord Singh, a longstanding interfaith activist, said that some contributors to the slot joked among themselves about being subject to the "thought police".

He said: "The need for sensitivity in talking about religious, political or social issues has now been taken to absurd proportions with telephone insistence on trivial textual changes right up to going into the studio, making it difficult to say anything worthwhile. The aim of Thought for the Day has changed from giving an ethical input to social and political issues to the recital of religious platitudes and the avoidance of controversy, with success measured by the absence of complaints. I believe Guru Nanak [the founder of Sikhism] and Jesus Christ, who boldly raised social concerns while stressing tolerance and respect, would not be allowed near Thought for the Day today."

He accused the BBC of "a misplaced sense of political correctness that pushes contributors to bland and unworldly expressions of piety that no one can complain about"...

After the incident last November Lord Singh sent a catalogue of complaints to Mr Purnell, a former culture secretary. The peer said that after the BBC had agreed in 2011 that he could discuss the birthday of Guru Nanak "I was told to scrap it and talk about the forthcoming marriage of Prince William with Kate. I reluctantly agreed to do so, to the upset of many Sikh listeners."

Another time "when I wanted to include the words 'the one God of us all' [central to Sikh teachings], I was told I could not mention this 'because it might offend Muslims' "...

Lord Singh's decision to quit comes after the BBC reversed their own ruling that presenter, Naga Munchetty, breached BBC guidelines in criticising President Donald Trump for "perceived racism".

At the time of the incident, the BBC claimed that Munchetty's comments went "beyond what the guidelines allow for" by taking issue with Trump's statement on Twitter about certain political opponents of his:

"Why don't they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

So here is another thought for the day: Why should the BBC – or the rest of the mainstream media -- rely on journalistic accuracy, when a sensationalist misquote will do?

Andrew Ash is based in the United Kingdom.

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Related Topics: Threats to Free Speech, United Kingdom

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Comment on this item

11 Reader Comments

Raj • Nov 3, 2019 at 05:07

Unfortunately the only thing political correctness guarantees is that we become the authors of our own demise.

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David • Oct 30, 2019 at 23:47

Free speech allows publication of politically correct ideology... but the reverse is not allowed.

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Bisley • Oct 30, 2019 at 12:33

All the UK is subject to the thought police. Political policy is attempting to shut down all criticism of Muslims and Islam, not to protect the sensibilities of Muslims (an idea ludicrous in itself), but to prevent public speech in opposition to the government policy of flooding the country immigrants (mostly Muslim).

There needs to be public resistance to this, and defiance of the laws and policies being used to enforce it. Free speech requires that every person, group, policy, etc. be subject to any criticism, denigration, or condemnation people are inclined to give it. It's neither possible, or desirable to protect any group from being spoken ill of. The only real effect of hate speech laws, "political correctness", etc. is to strangle public influence over government by making it unacceptable, or illegal to speak the truth.

There was no reason for BBC to censor anything Lord Singh had to say, even if he did disparage, or insult Islam. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and there's no reason the public shouldn't be allowed to hear it and make their own decisions as to whether they agree. BBC needs to be ended. There's no justification for a government broadcasting system. It's bad enough that the public are subjected to political censorship and propaganda -- they shouldn't be forced to pay for it as well.

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Alex • Oct 30, 2019 at 09:15

God knows how much England needs Boris, and the USA Donald...

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Glen Fallow • Oct 30, 2019 at 08:30

Nothing new from the BBC. It is now a biased liberal Oxbridge dictatorship where the opinions of the 20% are churned out to the masses. Take its stance on Trump and on BREXIT as two examples. It is getting away with it for the moment, but they should not forget when the apathy turns to anger, it's all on record.

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Tailless Baboon

Glen Fallow • Oct 30, 2019 at 19:44

Can biased be liberal? It's a contradiction in terms. It believes in freedom of speech for a particular ideology. Others are ignored, insulted and dispatched to oblivion.
Christians should be worried about being outnumbered by Muslims, what with the additional factor of an increasing number of Christians turning atheists and agnostics. They probably, and I am granting BBC a benefit of doubt which it probably doesn't deserve, wish to appease them so that they don't turn against them. History will repeat itself and they will learn the lesson when it's too late.

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Glen Fallow

Tailless Baboon • Oct 31, 2019 at 06:15

If the new age liberalism of the politicians and BBC is an ideology that will bring harm to the UK and people are prevented from hearing other points of view and also from hearing important facts that they choose to hide, then there is a bias in favour of their form of liberalism. There is no paradox. You mention religion, but there are many people in this country that remain nominally Christian but are regardless no threat to our security or culture. The same cannot be said of many other factions. We must get a grip whilst we are in a position to do something about it.

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Baboon2

Glen Fallow • Nov 1, 2019 at 19:51

Thanks, Glen.

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Patrick O'Reilly • Oct 30, 2019 at 07:22

All respect to Lord Singh for the stand he has been forced to take by the cowardice of the BBC establishment. He is right not to be party to this once honourable institution's self abasement. His cultured, compassionate and honest contribution to Radio 4 will be missed by me and many.
As for the BBC I'll borrow the words of the Bard's Westmoreland: "Farewell faint-hearted and degenerate king, In whose cold blood no spark of honour abides."

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Hamish MacDonald • Oct 30, 2019 at 05:52

"Know thy enemy" is an important piece of advice that is often forgotten.
The enemy of democracy is precisely what is going to undermine it. This is an agglutination of voices from various places which gather under a common banner of an "Anti-God" religion, which has gradually taken over what has been for many underpinning the western society, the golden rule. Thus rules of the immediate over-rule values bestowed upon children, and later adults, and the long term consequence is complete obliteration of all Christian tradition.
Threats to free speech is one important aspect for subjugation in this vast panoply.

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Baboon2

Hamish MacDonald • Nov 2, 2019 at 20:25

The enemies of democracy are the ones who, when pushed with reason into a corner, cite democratic principles to escape culpability. I think this escape route is called" Liberalism". It could be termed any other "ism" depending upon the circumstances and the level of maladjustment in the human society.
Please feel free to correct me.

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