Letters | 7 February 2009

A failure of fairness

Sir: Rod Liddle’s defence of the BBC (Liddle Britain, 31 January) does not stack up. Of course people with close connections to Palestinians, those fully aware of their sufferings and traumas, were in the forefront of calling for the BBC to air the charity’s appeal. How could it be otherwise? Yet for good reason, the BBC’s decision united Fleet Street left and right, triggered criticism of the Corporation from Cabinet ministers as well as the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and inspired probably the largest number of MPs in living memory to sign a motion regarding Palestine.

This appeal was not about being pro one side or the other. It was, and is, an issue of humanity — of helping people including destitute children, giving them food, medicines and blankets, literally helping them to survive.

This sacred grail of impartiality needs to be seriously challenged. Fairness and decency are values that should also be at the heart of any public service broadcaster’s remit if it is to carry public support.