Ross Clark Ross Clark

The BBC is falling short on its climate protest coverage

A Just Stop Oil protester is dragged off Centre Court at Wimbledon (Credit: Getty images)

According to a YouGov poll this week 64 per cent have an unfavourable view of Just Stop Oil (only 17 per cent have a positive view and the rest aren’t sure). Unfortunately, however, none of these people appear to feature in the contacts books of BBC producers.

The Today programme this morning attempted to have a discussion on the tactics of Just Stop Oil on disrupting sports events such as Wimbledon and Ashes test matches. The whole exercise was somewhat hampered by the fact that the two guests which the BBC saw fit to invite, Chris Packham and Lord Deben, could hardly bring themselves to say a negative word about the pressure group. Rather they both wanted to say that if we didn’t want to see such protests it was down to the government to do more to cease oil production.

On climate change at least the BBC is falling a long, long way short

That anyone might disagree with the immediate cessation of exploration for new oil supplies in the North Sea, for example, didn’t seem to enter into Today’s concept of the spectrum of public opinion.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in