Culture secretary confuses perception and evidence in ‘painful’ BBC bias interview | indy100

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Lucy Frazer, the culture secretary, started off a new week in UK politics by appearing on Sky News and struggling to understand the difference between perception and evidence, amid a discussion about bias at the BBC.

The South East Cambridgeshire MP’s conversation with Kay Burley comes as the government recommended new reforms to the public service broadcaster to “boost public trust”, such as giving the BBC Board active oversight over the organisation’s complaints process and granting the watchdog Ofcom powers to regulate BBC content on third-party websites such as YouTube.

The Mid-Term Review also recommends the BBC shares more information about what it is doing to make its editorial content more impartial to help it “tackle perceptions of bias”.

And it was this phrase on which Burley quizzed the government minister on Monday.

Frazer said: “There is a- there w- There is a perception amongst the public that the BBC is biased, and as culture secretary, it’s important that I look at that.

“I must say, these are issues that I have discussed with the BBC, they’ve taken [it] on board…”

Burley interjected: “I asked you about the evidence of bias, where’s the evidence?”

Taking an uncomfortable pause, Frazer replied: “The evidence of bias is what audiences believe is the content of BBC.”

Kay pointed out: “But that’s perception, that’s not evidence. That’s perception.”

Frazer stressed: “That is evidence. That is evident- Impartiality is about perception of the things that are being broadcast by the BBC, and the evidence in relation to that perception is that…”

After Kay emphasised once again that perception and evidence are two different things, the Conservative politician and barrister took another deep breath and continued: “The evidence from Ofcom, having done studies and questionnaires of the public, is that the BBC’s ratings in relation to impartiality have gone down, and I and the BBC think that there is more that the BBC can do in order to improve that.”

The interview has since been branded “painful” by social media users on Twitter/X:

@Haggis_UK Culture Secretary really is the job the Tories plumb the depths for. This was beyond painful to watch.
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@Haggis_UK This is such an unimpressive performance by @lucyfrazermp, who is a highly intelligent person. Twisting herself in knots to stoke the culture wars.
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@Haggis_UK \xe2\x80\x9cGo out there and give the BBC a kicking, Lucy\xe2\x80\x9d\n\nLucy Frazer: \xe2\x80\x9cOk but how do I\xe2\x80\xa6\xe2\x80\x9d\n\n\xe2\x80\x9cJust go out there and do it. Say perception is evidence or something\xe2\x80\x9d\n\nLucy Frazer:
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@Haggis_UK I'm not sure I've ever seen a minister so out of her depth. Given what's happened over the last few years, that's saying something! \n\nAlso, does she realise that many complaining of BBC bias will be those saying it's too friendly to the Tories?
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@Haggis_UK Lucy Frazer is a KC \n\nAstonishing that @KayBurley had to point out the difference between perception and evidence to her
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Just the latest in a long line of Secretaries of State for Culture Wars.\n\nAttacking and undermining one of our greatest institutions at every chance they get.\n\nInstead of using it as a punching bag the Government should be supporting the BBC to create wealth, jobs and joy.
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\xe2\x80\x98Perception is evidence.\xe2\x80\x99 What a stumbling, incoherent performance by the UK Culture & Media Secretary. \n\nThere\xe2\x80\x99s a deep hostility amongst many right wing Tories towards the BBC & public service broadcasting in general.
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\xf0\x9f\x94\xb7Lucy Frazer doesn't think the BBC is far enough to the right\n\xf0\x9f\x94\xb7Tories & their paymasters are desperate to SELL OFF THE BBC... so others can make money out of it.\n\xf0\x9f\x94\xb7Lucy Frazer as Culture Sec may well make us wish for the days of Nadine Dorries... discuss\xf0\x9f\x98\x82\n#GeneralElectionNow
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"Alexa, show me a Minister totally out of their depth".\nEvidence of incomptence.
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This is just brilliant, relentless interviewing from @KayBurley
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Well, Lucy Frazer didn't win any debating competitions at school, did she ?
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Lucy Frazer, Nads\xe2\x80\x99 replacement as Culture Sec is a spirited lass.\nLook how she ties Marxist @KayBurley up in knots about perception & evidence.\nIf we Conservatives BELIEVE the BBC is biased that\xe2\x80\x99s good enough.\nWE DON\xe2\x80\x99T NEED THE BLOODY EVIDENCE\nWhy can\xe2\x80\x99t Comrade Burley see this!\xf0\x9f\x98\xa1
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As Lucy Frazer articulated so well this morning, the evidence of bias at the BBC can be clearly evidenced by the perception that the evidence perceived by viewers as bias is the perception of clear evidence that bias has been perceived.
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In June 2022, Ofcom noted more than a third (39 per cent) of BBC complaints related to bias, with just over a quarter (26 per cent) concerning accusations of misleading or dishonest content.

Dame Melanie Dawes, the regulator’s chief executive, said at the time: “Viewers and listeners tell us they aren’t happy with how the BBC handles their complaints, and it clearly needs to address widespread perceptions about its impartiality.

“So we’re directing it to respond to these concerns, by being much more transparent and open with its audiences.”

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