Daniel Hannan MEP: The devalued PM of a devalued Government

Sapphire

maninthestreet wrote: »

It's what was said, and how the 'speech' was delivered that counts, not who delivered the speech that counts. Did you see Brown grinning like an idiot and doodling on a piece of paper whilst he squirmed with embarrassment during the speech?

I thought it was an excellent speech – concise, to the point and conveyed the opinion of much of the populace about the current situation.

ad9898_3

Over 1.1 million hits now, in just over 2 days. It is a fantastic piece of oratory, it couldn't have been said in the House of Commons, he would have been shouted down.

Renfro

ad9898 wrote: »

Over 1.1 million hits now, in just over 2 days.

http://www.order-order.com/2009/03/hannan-breaks-the-million-views-barrier/

A._Badger wrote: »

The BBC comes out of this almost as badly as Brown.

The story that got away, despite the BBC's best efforts!

Countless readers have been posting on the BBC (and elsewhere) to ask why this story wasn't given even the most cursory of coverage, and similar questions have now been asked by a couple of bloggers at the Telegraph (for whom Daniel Hannan also blogs).

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/janet_daley/blog/2009/03/27/dan_hannan_shames_the_bbc_and_proves_need_for_broadcasting_freedom

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/robert_colvile/blog/2009/03/27/daniel_hannan_vs_pretty_much_everyone

Now, I do accept that Hannan's speech was not exactly a world changing event, but it really did strike a chord with the public, and it certainly raised issues about who exactly should be deciding what constitutes newsworthiness. Many people (who would not describe themselves as particularly political) have, in the absence of coverage by the mainstream media, started to seek out news for themselves for the first time. I think that in itself worries those would like to cling on to the old way of mainstream media dictating exactly what the news agenda should be.

Certainly Mark Mardell's belated explanation for not covering it has not gone down at all well, judging by the comments left by readers.

My own suspicions is that there are probably pressures in the mainstream media not to embarrass Gordon Brown so close to the G20.

Sir_Humphrey

Am I the only one who was reminded of Harry Enfield's Toryboy?

Boo to Brown...pthhh...

Renfro

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

Am I the only one who was reminded of Harry Enfield's Toryboy?

No, you are part of an illustrious group that includes the erudite and sagacious Derek Draper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTDO8cDWwQo

Sir_Humphrey

Renfro wrote: »

No, you are part of an illustrious group that includes the erudite and sagacious Derek Draper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTDO8cDWwQo

Oh, Tony boy thinks so too! Oh dear!

Remember, I have seen these people in action at the Oxford Union and eleswhere. Still, watching them govern should give me quite a bit of black comedy.

Heyman_2

Renfro wrote: »

Countless readers have been posting on the BBC (and elsewhere) to ask why this story wasn't given even the most cursory of coverage, and similar questions have now been asked by a couple of bloggers at the Telegraph (for whom Daniel Hannan also blogs).

The 'coverage' they've given it on the BBC website given the furore is fairly embarassing.

It was on the front page for exactly one day (yesterday) and has now been relegated to the 'Politics' section, underneath a video report of Christine Hamilton (battleaxe wife of disgraced former MP Neil Hamilton milking her 15 minutes to oblivion) talking about MPs expenses!!!!!!!! Yeah, because that's much more coverage-worthy :rolleyes:

GooeyBlob

Renfro wrote: »

My own suspicions is that there are probably pressures in the mainstream media not to embarrass Gordon Brown so close to the G20.

There was an internal memo which went round the BBC about 18 months ago, instructing everybody to "go easy on the government".

Renfro

GooeyBlob wrote: »

There was an internal memo which went round the BBC about 18 months ago, instructing everybody to "go easy on the government".

I guess the pressure must have become too much.

They've caved in

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7968182.stm

Graham_Devon

Renfro wrote: »

I guess the pressure must have become too much.

They've caved in

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7968182.stm

A spokesman for Downing Street said they would not be commenting on the speech.

What a surprise. Their very job is to comment on these types of things, but yet again, they fail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqC6ubGOJxM&feature=response_watch

The US are running interviews with him.