I might be inclined to believe this statement from Question Time, were it not for the fact that both they and the BBC have a history of lying to cover their own backsides whenever there's controversy about the programme.
For example, David Dimbleby infamously said "Question Time doesn't follow by-elections."
They had in fact done four by-election editions since 2012.
Stoke-on-Trent (2017), Corby (2012), Eastleigh (2013), and er, Clacton (2014).
We also shouldn't forget they defended having UKIP and Farage on repeatedly in spite of their own guidelines about support at the national level.
UKIP at the national level peaked at 12% in 2015. But were on 24% of all episodes between May 2010 and Feb 2017.
That trend is still continuing. Since the 2024 election, there have been 57 editions of Question Time held in the UK.
Reform having managed 14% of the national vote, have been represented on 33% of all broadcasts. 19 times.
And of course both the BBC and Question Time defended Fiona Bruce, when she was facing calls to go after her disgusting intervention to downplay the allegations of domestic violence against Stanley Johnson.
We received complaints from people who felt comments Fiona Bruce made with reference to allegations of domestic violence by Stanley Johnson trivialised the issue, and were biased in his favour.
But if there really is a policy to "not to invite MPs on in their local constituencies unless it’s for a single-issue special programme," then how do they explain the list of names I pulled up?
None of them were cabinet members, or people with expertise in a specialised topics.
Again, the short list I found.
- Lucy Powell in Manchester, literally two weeks ago.
- Stephen Flynn in Aberdeen.
- Ian Murray in Edinburgh.
- Anas Sarwar and Patrick Harvie in Glasgow.
- Giles Watling in Clacton.
And as an additional, both the BBC and Question Time may also want to clarify why they don't state the political affiliations of certain guests.
Tom Skinner was just the latest example of getting Reform through the back door, by not mentioning that he's a member and in his case is also seeking to be an election candidate.
Both Nadine Dorries and Matt Goodwin have been brought on with no mention of their membership of Reform.
Instead they've been touted to the Question Time audience as broadcasters and authors.
So forgive me for not accepting the defence of Nigel Farage chickening out of appearing in Clacton on face value.
@ShredderLivesOn I only occasionally watch QT, from behind back of the sofa. But enough to be puzzled by their choice of guest. I get it that they must include members of an annoyingly popular party, but they should make it clear who they are. We should remind them by email ... Perhaps the producers are more naive than we realise. Hard to believe they favour Reform.
@wood5y And ironically, he is a convicted criminal.
Suspended sentence for handling over £40,000 worth of stolen goods.
There's also questions about a £50,000 Covid bounce-back loan he wasn't really entitled to and that he's never paid back.
Despite boasting that he made millions during the pandemic.
@wood5y For about that amount, you'd be facing about three years.
I think he got a three month sentence suspended for two years. As he argued that he didn't know the goods were stolen, and that he just hadn't properly scrutinised his supplier.
I'm shocked they didn't hit him with drug charges too, given he had about 2,000 diazepam tablets as well.
@wood5y My guess is that he pleaded guilty on a lesser charge, and accepted culpability on the grounds that he had received them in good faith.
Couple it with leniency on the grounds it was a first offence and a non-violent crime.
Hence the suspended sentence and 300 hours unpaid work.
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