At the height of the British political expenses scandal of last year, the nation’s revolutionary fervour inspired the BBC to move their Question Time political debate programme from its usual late night slot to peak time. So, far from the BBC acting to hide the scandal, they worked to increase its exposure. To me, this shows that they are not entirely state lackeys, as some people might think.
The British Velvet Revolution Now On BBC4
About a year later, the nation’s understandable wrath seems to have subsided, and democracy is stable again. Did democracy work? Has anything changed? I don’t know, and only time will tell I guess. Action has been taken, but whether it will bring real lasting change is unclear.
Last week, a doc-drama about how American journalist, Heather Brookes, tried to uncover the excess political expenses before the story was eventually leaked to the Telegraph newspaper (another sign of the media not being state lackeys), was shown on BBC4 (thanks to the Yorkshire Evening Post review for reminding me).
On Expenses suggested Brookes was a rebel who wanted a Watergate style story, while the establishment was defensive and secretive. Commons speaker, Michael Martin, was shown to have rejected traditional protocol, but to have used expenses as much as possible with a kind of ‘workers’ rights’ rationale that was suggested to have been inspired by his working class roots.
It’s still available to watch until March 9th on BBC iplayer.
The Islamic Fundamentalist Revolution on Channel Four
If On Expenses reminded me of my rebellious youth opposing the system, the Dispatches documentary about those said to be working to create Britain’s Islamic Republic showed why my revolutionary zeal has subsided, and I’m thinking better the devil you know these days.
There’s a lot of debate about the programme on the above site, and how dangerous the Islamic Fundamentalists shown in the programme really are; but the sexism, homophobia, racism and fascism that these groups are known for was clearly apparent to all.
This was evident in the actual footage of fundamentalists’ speeches; conversations with Islamist activists boasting about how they were using the democratic system to promote and finance themselves and their religion/beliefs/structures; and the testimony of moderate muslims who know how they work and have bravely decided to oppose them.
It’s available to watch throughout March on the Channel Four website.
Also, congratulations to prominant Islamic theologian, Sheikh Tahir ul-Qadri, for issuing a fatwa against Islamic Fundamentalists carrying out terrorism, declaring those who do it will not go to paradise. And the Pakistan army for having Al Quaeda on the run.
