BBC Complaint re Scottish Fire and Rescue report

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We heard, six times between 6 and 9am:

‘Scottish Fire and Rescue has a backlog of almost £400 million in vehicle and property maintenance.’

 According to the BBC report, Audit Scotland have described the funding gap as ‘insurmountable’.

The above information was extracted from the 5th statement in the summary on page 5 of the report. Missing from the BBC broadcast was any reference to statements 1 to 4 or the opening to statement 5, which include these key points:

  1. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) continues to deliver emergency and prevention services while progressing a complex and ambitious programme of reform.
  2. The board continues to work well, with real strengths in the quality of discussion and scrutiny and challenge of management. The board and management display mutual respect, a constructive tone and genuine shared ownership of the issues facing the SFRS.
  3. The SFRS has an ambitious vision that involves significant changes to make it a more flexible, modern service. Progress with developing and implementing the plans for transformation has been steady but slow, due to a range of contributing factors.
  4. The SFRS has continued to make progress with integrating different ways of working but has not yet achieved full integration. Harmonised pay and conditions for firefighters were agreed in April 2018, placing the SFRS in a good position to complete integration of the service.
  5. The SFRS has strong financial management and has developed a good approach to long-term financial planning. It is now in a position to progress with transformation.

This is a classic scare story, based on bias by omission, which was likely to be all the more scary given the time of broadcast and the repetition of one negative aspect, from a more complex and balanced document.

 

14 thoughts on “BBC Complaint re Scottish Fire and Rescue report

  1. sverrekoxvold May 31, 2018 / 3:03 pm

    bbc strikes again. And we’ll be keeping track of you. And those who take part in this biased reporting.

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Ludo Thierry May 31, 2018 / 4:36 pm

    Hi John – May I salute your indefatigability?

    Liked by 2 people

    • johnrobertson834 June 1, 2018 / 6:08 am

      Thanks. I’ve been indefatigable before but got scunnered. We’ll see

      Like

  3. John May 31, 2018 / 5:14 pm

    Well done John , keep telling them they are biased and well we know it , government lackeys every one ! .

    Liked by 1 person

  4. annraynet May 31, 2018 / 5:39 pm

    Thanks a lot for your untiring work in exposing BBC bias. I was not surprised to see you so quick off the mark today as the reports were so blatant that I’m sure many of your regular readers spotted it straight away.
    What a collection of Scottish government is rubbish reports they managed to squeeze in today. Like like the Unionists are getting worried.

    Like

  5. AndyMak May 31, 2018 / 9:44 pm

    Can the Scottish government do something to circumvent the license fee fines/jail sentences. I would love to tell them to get it F**k but my wife, who occasionally watches some of the shows on the Bias Broadcasting COmpany does not like the idea of officials coming to the door.

    Like

  6. Contrary June 1, 2018 / 7:05 am

    Of course, radio Scotland was particularly vociferous on how the fire service is short funded and will never recover, so good of you to tell me otherwise John! I think you’ll have to keep a close eye on Site Admin over on Indyref2, they are reporting on your article, again,

    http://indyref2.scot/bbc-scotland-accused-of-cherry-picking-bad-news-from-audit-scotland-fire-service-report

    I have to say, it is quite satisfying to have usual-style reporting being done (as in highlighting a thing by reporting on what someone else says) within the independence supporting media (and Site seems to have got all their ‘Professors’ in order 🙂 )

    Interestingly, you know the report that wings highlighted about how the repeal of OBFA has left a gap in the law, well radio Scotland has just reported about needing a new law re racial etc hatred, I thought they wouldn’t mention the report but in fact did (Gary), mentioning the gap, though emphasised how OBFA wasn’t suitable – I believe the SNP Scottish government at the time said to parliament to suggest a replacement and they could debate it, rather than just repeal a very popular (though imperfect) law – but no, parliament insisted in leaving a gap in the law, thereby not serving the people they are meant to represent, and I still don’t understand why this couldn’t have been done before any repeals.

    Like

  7. Ludo Thierry June 1, 2018 / 11:48 am

    From beeb England page:

    The RMT has called for Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to “get out” after days of “carnage” on Northern trains since a new timetable came in.

    The union’s general secretary Mick Cash said his members are facing public anger “without a shred of support” from Mr Grayling or Northern’s management.

    Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told the BBC he understands Northern will introduce an emergency timetable.

    A spokesman for Northern said there will be “amended services” from Monday.

    The company has fully cancelled 212 services so far today with all services on the Lakes Line between Oxenholme to Windermere affected.

    A further 81 have been part cancelled (eg trains not travelling to their final destination or missing out certain stops on a route).

    Passengers have faced widespread cancellations and delays since a timetable change was introduced on 20 May.

    Since 18 May, more than 2,000 Northern services have been aborted.

    This is utterly OUTRAGEOUS – Humza must RESIGN forthwith.

    Like

    • John June 1, 2018 / 1:20 pm

      😂🤣

      Like

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