In one broadcast, the BBC has just unequivocally proved its political leanings.
The BBC aired a performance which slammed Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
There is a famous phrase, usually incorrectly attributed to Einstein, which goes: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It could well serve as the BBC‘s current mantra after the corporation once again found itself embroiled in accusations of bias – this time after allowing an outspoken attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to be broadcast live.
The offender was 31-year-old acclaimed Mercury prize winning British rapper Loyle Carner, who told the Reading Festival crowd “f*** Nigel Farage” during a set broadcast live by the BBC. The offending performance was subsequently uploaded to, and is still available on, BBC iPlayer. It is difficult to see how this can be dismissed as an unforeseeable incident. Carner has form when it comes to Farage. He has openly criticised him on red carpets and also took a swipe at him during his Reading Festival set in 2024.
The BBC knew it was broadcasting an artist who had previously used his platform to attack Farage – yet it allowed the remark to go out live. And therein lies the problem.
The BBC is supposed to be impartial. Its Royal Charter and editorial rules require it to observe “due impartiality”. Would the BBC have been quite so relaxed if a performer had shouted “f*** [insert Labour or Conservative leaders here]” or any other less controversial politician during a live broadcast? I suspect not.
What makes this error even worse, is it comes just over a year after the corporation faced huge criticism over Bob Vylan‘s Glastonbury performance, leading to the corporation promising tougher safeguards around potentially controversial live broadcasts.
Following the immediate backlash the BBC completely blocked Bob Vylan’s controversial set from moving to its on-demand service stating within 24 hours it would not be hosted on iPlayer.
Loyle Carner criticised Nigel Faragein his Reading performance which went out live on the BBC (Image: Getty)
The broadcaster also subsequently claimed it had established clearer, more practical guidance for staff regarding the exact threshold required to completely cut an active live stream if something goes wrong.
Yet Carner’s anti-Farage outburst went out live and remains on the streaming platform at the time of writing.
The BBC has pointed to the fact that Reading is a third-party event and that warnings for “strong language and discriminatory language” were displayed on screen. That feels like a remarkably convenient get-out clause.
Because this isn’t simply about swearing and a warning about bad language does not address the issue of political impartiality and the BBC’s responsibility not to appear to favour one political position over another.
Loyle Carner is perfectly entitled to dislike Farage. He is perfectly entitled to say so. As is anybody. But the BBC isn’t supposed to take sides.
Whatever your personal feelings about Farage, the BBC are bound not to show bias against him.
Aside from the official guidelines he is entitled to the same treatment they give other politicians and causes.
And after years of controversy over allegations of BBC bias, another incident in which an attack on a right-wing political figure is allowed to go out on its platform does little to dispel the impression that its commitment to impartiality isn’t quite as sincere as it claims.