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BBC attacked over 'insulting' focus on white working class
Amar Singh and Alex Stephens13.03.08
The BBC is facing a barrage of criticism over its season of programmes about the white working class.
Politicians, industry figures and campaigners have lambasted the corporation for airing racist views and portraying working class Britons as "obsessed with race".
Tomorrow's segment of the White season features Barking BNP member "Dave" who brands a Nigerian a "dog".
Parminder Vir, an award-winning TV producer and former BBC executive, said: "It's insulting to white workingclass people really as the season is based on the assumption that they are obsessed with race.
"I thought these programmes would give a balanced insight into the aspirations and challenges that people face every day - it doesn't and it is a missed opportunity. It certainly doesn't celebrate white working-class culture."
Dave is shown handing out leaflets and saying: "There's a difference between us and them. They are not interested in our culture and I am not interested in their culture."
He describes the Nigerian father of his daughter's child as a "dog" and tells her: "I'd prefer you to meet one of your own but you have a preference for sunburnt people." Cyriac Maprayil of the East London Human Rights Commission said: "The BBC are giving too much importance to the BNP for the sake of rousing controversy and appearing provocative.
"In reality, they appeal to very few people and a public service broadcaster should not give them a platform."
Kulveer Ranger, the Tory party's vicechairman for cities, said: "The BBC have got it wrong and seem stuck in the Seventies with this preoccupation with race. The concerns of white working-class people are the same as those of many Britons of all backgrounds and colours."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "If you are white working class you are at the sharp end of the effects of immigration and the subjects of these programmes have come about through surveying people in 2005. We found white workingclass British people felt disenfranchised and EastEnders characters or Vicky Pollard didn't accurately portray them."
Reader views (6)
I see nothing but denial in this article and some of the responses. Massive immigration, planned and unplanned, is the biggest issue facing the UK. We are now beginning to see forecasts of seventy to eighty million population in these overcrowded islands. Did we ever get the chance to vote for that? Do we ever get the chance to even to just discuss it without being branded as racists? The BBC series was not very good, but please give us a chance to air the subject.
- John Of Enfield, UK
I do not see that there is any animosity against immigrants by the people of Britain. There is animosity against a British government that did not plan for such an influx of people coming from recently added EU countries. Other EU countries did not do this, they staged the process. But at this time Tony Blair was desperate for support for the invasion of Iraq (2003). Promises to Poland took precedence over the wishes of the British people (and previous immigrants already living in Britain).
- Paul, London
Full marks to the BBC they have at last broken free from the chains of PC.
Opening debates and airing the views held by a large section of the community is a duty of the BBC. It passes no comment and allows the viewer to make their own mind up.
The suppression of ideas and free speech has no place in a democracy, a true democracy trusts the fairness and decency of it's citizens, to look at and listen to whatever they like.
There can be no doubting that there is a crisis amongst the poor white population and their voice has for too long been suppressed. All the main political parties have largely ignored them and created a society that they had no place in. Mass unemployment in the eighties and and poor services since have created an underclass who have also been denied a voice to press their case rightly or wrongly they deserve to be acknowledged and listened to just like the well organised and over represented minorities, why is everyone so worried about others having a platform to express their views?
- Chelsea Chaz, Fulham, London
It's simple isn't it? The series should concentrate of the economic practicalities and reality accept that immigration and the perception of immigration (the race card) is a small part of a bigger picture.
- Alan Hall, Lewisham, London
New labour has completely betrayed the working classes. It has neglected the white working class who are really struggling to make ends meet at the moment, with increase in prices everywhere! They can no longer afford the rising fuel bills and the unbelievable petrol prices; it seems so many ordinary people are really struggling to meet their bills; just to stand still.
Meanwhile these ordinary people observe massive profits for the utility companies, and the petrol companies and the massive wage increases for the fat cats leading these companies. Not to mention MPs claiming incredible wage increases and expenses. It is just sickening! New Labour has sucked the working people dry with unprecedented taxes, including false green taxes and the like and the people of this nation no longer have any faith in the credibility of this Government. This is a false New Labour Government who has sold its soul to the devil and doesn't care less about the struggles of ordinary working class people it is supposed to represent. This is a government that has betrayed the working class people and has neglected its own people to line its own pockets. It is truly shameful!
- Simon Icke, Aylesbury UK
Time and again, they insult sections of society (this time it's the white working class. This is not the job of a public sector broadcaster or its egotistical, out of touch employees.
- Anthony, London, W2
