Kind of sums up the BBC really.   Each Saturday morning `Newswatch` appears on our tv screens and it`s admirable in a way as it is supposed to hold BBC news to account for the licence payer.  But quite often it simply becomes a vehicle to demonstrate that, despite the valid and constructive criticism displayed by viewers who have raised issues, the BBC is actually never wrong.

For example, this morning there were justifiable complaints about the fact that BBC news grabbed hold of the leaked information about the tanker driver shortage to make it front and centre news, including the Government`s plea `not to panic.`   This resulted in the whole country panicking and we are still seeing the results - queues at filling stations driven by a `culture` - especially here in the south east - that demonstrates selfishness, thoughtlessness and a `me first` attitude which seems to mirror present day `society` in this part of the world.

The viewers` complaint was naturally that the BBC simply chose to accentuate the negative in all this, showing footage of long queues and empty forecourts whereas had they chosen not to, then perhaps the situation would not have become quite so serious.   A BBC News spokesman was wheeled out to explain their position, especially their sense of priority in giving so much coverage to this issue in advance of more serious ones.   The answer he gave was unconvincing but he was at pains to  show once again that, whatever the criticism might be, the BBC are never wrong.   It would have been far more convincing if for once, just once, the BBC could admit that they got it wrong, were sorry about that and would take the complaints on board.

At 7.30 this morning, I caught the news headlines on BBC Breakfast.  I suppose I should be comforted that their main headline was not about the fuel issue, instead it was a report about the plight of a lady who was finding life difficult following the Government`s withdrawal of the temporary £20 uplift in Universal Credit.  Now of course I sympathise with people in her situation but I was surprised that it was the main `news` of the day as far as the BBC was concerned.   It came over, given that there was no balanced or alternative view, as more a political statement than balanced and impartial journalism.  Once again a peculiar sense of priority.

Now I confess that, probably against my better judgment, I renewed the compulsory BBC licence for fear of reprisals such as being glued to a nearby motorway slip road, but I think the more biased, out of touch and downright wrong the BBC becomes, the less I will be inclined to renew it again.

There, that`s better - I`ve got that off my chest - well, Southampton are away at Chelsea this afternoon, no wonder my mood has turned gloomy on this miserable day.