Democracy in Action – How Radio Berkshire censored me

Apolitical candidate lambasts BBC Radio Berkshire for biased treatment

Apolitical parliamentary candidate Peter Norman expressed his anger today at being deliberately excluded from Radio Berkshire’s hustings at Newbury Market Place this morning (Wednesday 9:00am).

Commenting on the conversations he has had with the radio station Peter said: “The BBC has a remit as a public service broadcaster to ensure that there is fair coverage of the election.  To exclude one candidate based on the 2010 election result, when I did not even stand in that election, and the fact that we do not have a national remit misses the point.  This husting is about the local election taking place in the constituency of Newbury and the BBC has a remit to ensure fair treatment in their coverage.  There are some really important issues not being discussed at this election such as climate change and I am beginning to understand why, with the BBC acting as censor.  Our message against party politics is resonating with the people we are speaking with on the doorstep, and the fact we have five candidates in this election shows that we have a growing swell of support at a local level.  The fact that our video message launched yesterday achieved over 1000 views within 8 hours (https://www.facebook.com/1674542996102582/videos/vb.1674542996102582/1674892709400944/?type=2&theater) demonstrates that people share our concerns about the things not being talked about at this election, but Radio Berkshire have taken it on themselves to be the arbiter of who should be allowed to have a voice.”

Peter goes on to say: “the odds are already stacked against independents in not having the financial or physical resources of the party machines to get our message out there, without Radio Berkshire throwing additional obstacles our way.  It is particularly bizarre as the other candidates were supportive of me being included resulting in an extraordinary stand off, indeed UKIP candidate Catherine Anderson kindly offered for me to take her place as she could not make it, but according to the radio station there is no room at the table.  I was barred from even posing a question to the other candidates about what they thought about my exclusion this morning.  It is disgraceful especially as Andrew Peach advertised this show as speaking to all the candidates standing in Newbury.  As a licence payer I have to ask who gives them the right to choose who should be heard?”