Pro-EU campaigners protested outside BBC Question Time from Chester Town Hall alleging BBC Brexit bias.
The Chester for Europe group claimed none of their members had been successful in applying to be in the audience.
In contrast, former UKIP parliamentary candidate Steve Ingram was in the room and able to make a short pro-Brexit speech to the nation which was later picked up by BBC Radio Five Live in its post programme discussion show.
The Chester for Europe group held placards that read ‘Remain is the majority now – wake up BBC’ and ‘I Question the Time the BBC spends defending Brexit’.
Noel McGlinchey, chair of Chester for Europe, said: “A large portion of our 700 strong Chester for Europe group applied well ahead, but were not invited to the audience.
“This may be a fluke, however you’d think in a city which voted remain in 2016 and is even more heavily remain now, they would contact us for our perspective.”
On Twitter, one campaigner commented: “None of us who applied in the @chesterforeu group got invited! Quelle surprise! Kippers prevalent....of course! #bbcbias.”
Brexit issues in Cheshire
Blacon Labour councillor Ben Powell commented: “Ah so #bbcqt put the UKIP candidate for Chester last time in the audience as if he is just some normal guy talking, but refuse the applications of people I know with no political affiliations at all. This is how it works then.”
The panel comprised the Conservative government’s financial secretary to the treasury Mel Stride MP, Labour ’s shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald MP, England and Liverpool footballing legend John Barnes and commentator for the libertarian website Spiked, Ella Whelan, who is a staunch Brexiteer.
But the panel also included Chris Leslie MP, an ardent remainer, who this week left Labour to join the newly formed Independent Group and told the audience he believes in a second referendum. He said: “I’m afraid that my constituents’ livelihoods, jobs, the manufacturing sector, service sector – all of those things are going to be potentially crippled if we go over that cliff edge in less than 100 days’ time.”
What annoyed some local remainers was that former UKIP member Steve Ingram was able to secure a place in the audience while they were not.
Mr Ingram told the panel: “There is a key phrase being utilised here today in the debate taking place by the panel and it’s called honouring democracy. You all talk about that but the bottom line is right now the House of Commons is not doing that. Across the board in all parties you are failing to deliver the biggest historical democratic mandate ever issued in this country. You have a duty to dance to the tune that was given to you in 2016. Get on with it!
“We’re sick and tired of Theresa May trotting over to Brussels with her own form of independence. We voted to leave and end and sever ties and being dictated to by the European Union – get on with it!”
He was backed up by commentator Ella Whelan whose remarks were aimed at Chris Leslie: “I completely agree with you. I think the real travesty to democracy in relation to this new group is that you’re all virulently anti-Brexit. That is the real threat to democracy here.”
■ The People’s Vote campaign have organised another march in London on Saturday, March 23, to pressure parliament to hold a second referendum on Brexit. Chester For Europe is organising coaches for the event which it hopes will be much bigger than the 700,000-strong march last October. For more details, visit: www.chesterforeurope.org
| BBC Question Time has not responded directly to allegations of bias but insists its processes for panel and audience selection are ‘robust’. Its website states: “Question Time selects local audiences which reflect a broad range of political views. People apply to be in the audience for Question Time via the website and by phone and producers get in touch to ask questions on their previous voting record and future voting intentions, whether they have party political membership and also how they voted in the EU Referendum. "This is to ensure a range of views are represented in the audience. Occasionally, if production staff feel any group or view is under-represented in the applications, they will promote the programme through relevant local media channels to encourage people to apply. “As with the make-up of the panels, Question Time is aiming to achieve due impartiality in the membership of the audience across the series as a whole, rather than being confined to an exact mathematical formula for each programme. However, particular guidelines will apply during election periods to both panels and audiences.” |
