Monday, April 16, 2007

Peter Black entertains me

Peter Black has blogged as follows and in truth it gave me great, post canvas, entertainment - just think how many monolingual English adverts this money could have purchased !

Plaid kicked into touch

Plaid Cymru's attempt to spend their London legacy has run into the ground somewhat with the BBC's refusal to broadcast rugby games from the grounds of regional sides where the Party has paid for pitch-side advertising.Plaid paid £6,000 for the hoardings and are rather miffed that the broadcaster has seen through their little ploy to get around broadcast rules. They have written to the BBC Controller in Wales, Menna Richards to demand that the BBC acknowledges it has no right to order the removal of the posters and that assurances be given to the clubs that the adverts can be replaced.

For their part the BBC say that their rules are quite clear:"In the UK, there are legal restrictions imposed on broadcasters to ensure that where controversial subjects are covered, for example elections, such coverage is presented with due accuracy and impartiality. "I think the purpose of such restrictions is clear - it is to ensure fairness. In this context, this means fairness as between political parties. The BBC is under a legal obligation to comply with these restrictions - they are not optional."During an election period, the requirement of due impartiality as between political parties arguably becomes even more important. The BBC goes to great lengths to ensure that it meets its obligations of due impartiality during election periods."The inclusion of political advertising within sports programming places the BBC in a difficult position. We do not want to interfere with a political party's ability to advertise.

At the same time, we have to operate in accordance with the law, and treat parties in this context with due impartiality. It is for this reason that we do not at present believe that we would be able to broadcast matches where there is the prospect of your party's advertisements being featured to any significant degree."The Welsh Rugby Union is under a contractual obligation to the BBC to ensure that any advertisements in relevant venues do not infringe the BBC's Charter and Agreement or our Editorial Guidelines. These requirements were included so that our broadcasts do not breach our legal obligations."

I suppose it was worth Plaid trying it on, especially as they can afford it.


I was really upset !! But surely someone has some explaining to do on how that London legacy is being spent.

9 comments:

Alwyn ap Huw said...

Comments turned off so that nobody can remind you that Ann JonesLabour was the first to raise this issue?

Che Grav-ara said...

Martin you do realise that the "London" legacy was donated by a welsh person? Or do you discriminate against welsh people living abroad?

As for "london" legacy's i'll ask the number of peerage owners what they think about giving money to political parties should i!

Martin Eaglestone said...

Adverts
I know all about Ann and her favourite player David Cameron !

I don't think Ann spent her election funds on seeking to place the adverts, but objected to a long term board as the area's AM being covered. (Glyn Davies suffered similar problem to Ann in the massive TNS v Caernarfon match).

London funds

Oh that's all right then. But to me it still sounds like massive money raised outside of Wales by selling property.

Cymro said...

Well, it is money raised in England, when you put it that way. But since, for example, 65.7% of money earned in Gwynedd leaves the area, it seems fair.

Cai Larsen said...

'Dwi'n sylwi nad ydych wedi caniatau fy sylwadau ynglyn a gwariant cymharol y pleidiau gwleidyddol yn etholiadau San Steffan, 2005.

Mae hyn yn ddigon teg - chi ydi perchennog y blog wedi'r cwbl.

Ond 'dwi yn meddwl y byddai'n deg i chwi ei gwneud yn glir nad ar sail ailadrodd, gwneud pwyntiau diflas a gwneud sylwadau personol yn unig yr ydych yn gwahardd sylwadau.

'Dydw i ddim yn euog o'r un o'r tri pechod hynny.

'

Aled said...

che grav-ara - interesting point but do you not realise that dafydd wigley was actually born david wigley in derby england and yet for all Plaid's attacks about english influences at work in other parties they forget about their own closer to home....

And why is Labour's "english money" much of which may have been donated by cymro cymraegs who have moved over the border considered to be dirty money yet Plaid's benefactor - who lived much of his life in south london - is perfectly acceptable.

Double standards...surely not...just like I'm sure the huge sum of money they were given by this now deceased English resident to influence the Welsh elections makes it no different to funding pushed in by any other party.

Martin Eaglestone said...

Pwnt digon teg gan menaiblog - bosib effaith trio rheoli rhai eraill !

Ella gawn synwyr cyffredin yn fuan fel bod trafodaeth agored.

Cymro said...

PS has any one noticed that Aled's posts are idiotic?

Anyone would think that he has a stuffed animal for a brain.

Aled said...

PPS Has anyone noticed that when someone ask difficult questions of cymro like this one:

Name one thing Alun Ffred has done for Arfon in the last four years - other than launch his website three weeks ahead of an election...

All he can do is result to childish insults.

Maybe I've touched a nerve?

Maybe the fact I will never vote Plaid ever again - as his party are willing to sell out Wales to the Tories - has upset him.

Or maybe he is just typical of Plaid Cymru today - you either agree with us or we will insult you.

Thats why Labour will get a huge swing in their favour in Arfon in a few weeks time.

And Cymro is worried...