A PIOUS HOPE...

Okay - firstly a disclaimer.  I am not, never have been and quite probably never will be a member of any political party or organisation.  And so this is not a criticism either of the parties themselves or anyone who sees fit to join them.   Rather my complaint - not for the first time - is with the BBC  who, especially in the run up to a General Election, should surely be demonstrating the degree of political impartiality that we are entitled to expect from a publicly funded organisation.

Early this morning, at the end of a BBC South East Today news bulletin, up pops failed LibDem MP Lembit Opik to proclaim that he will be hosting a phone-in on BBC local radio about the suspension of a UKIP MEP following allegations of some financial impropriety.

Now I could roll out the litany of failure, embarrassment and comic desperation that has dogged Mr. Opik over the years, but that would be to miss the point, which is simply one of bewilderment that the BBC should be inviting a political `figure` to host a discussion into the problems of another political organisation.   Mind you, other television channels are just as bad - for example, SKY inviting former Home Secretary and expenses cheat Jaqui Smith to be part of their Press Review collective.

But when all is said and done, the hope I have for the BBC to act within their original and admirable remit is clearly a pious one.