Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments
'The BBC earned my trust many years ago and will always have it', says reader
I agreed with every word of Bill Curtis’s column in defence of the BBC (Metro, Tue).
He said its enemies are using the scandal over Panorama’s editing of the Donald Trump speech to replace it with a ‘privatised, hollowed-out broadcaster’.
The right wing of politics in this country has always wanted to stop the BBC under the laughable disguise of ‘fairness’.
It just can’t stand anyone disagreeing with it! The dictatorial Donald J Trump – who says he will sue the BBC for $1billion over the Panorama episode – has just given them another weapon to use in its attack.
What does it take to stop these attacks backed by a so-called ‘politician’ who has no elected status in this nation but who, in his own, has Fox News in his deep pocket and his own muck-spouting social media network, which he has the gall to name Truth Social?
The BBC earned my trust many years ago and will always have it. It should never kowtow to a dictatorial, thin-skinned, cowardly bully like Trump. If he wants to sue somebody for an amount they could never pay, he can sue me instead! Margaret Madeley, Lancashire
Reader says the BBC are coming under unfair amount of heat
The BBC seems to have made a great editorial error in its Panorama programme in making it seem as though Trump encouraged the Capitol Riots of 2021.
But unlike other large organisations that make mistakes, the BBC is under ultra-intense scrutiny, particularly from the right-wing press and political parties.
Warts and all, the BBC is a national and global institution that tries hard to offer impartiality. We should be proud of that and protect it.
We have seen how Trump and our own right-wing politicians would dearly love to snuff out all diversity of opinion and debate and replace it with just their voice. Guy Wilkins, Richmond
Reporting on ‘what Trump actually says will be enough to condemn him’, says reader
Got a question about UK politics?
Send in yours and Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email alrightgov@metro.co.uk or submit your question here.
The TV licence seems an unnecessary expense but it does pay for the BBC – or perhaps now for Donald Trump to spend on his next ‘beautiful’ project if his threatened lawsuit comes to pass.
The idea of a $1billion settlement for misedited film clips is farcical but Trump does like to issue massive suits and a number of organisations have paid up.
The BBC and other media organisations should simply report the truth and what he actually says, as that will be enough to condemn him. Dennis Fitzgerald, via email
Do Labour ‘talk big but act small’?
Julian Self (MetroTalk, Tue) thinks we should be paying more taxes to pay for our ‘crumbling’ public services.
What a nice thought for those who struggle as it is. Instead of raising taxes – as chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled she will – why doesn’t the government just do what it said it would do.
Get people off welfare and into work where possible. Get the benefits bill down as they said they would rather than keep U-turning. Sort out the NHS and not keep throwing money at it, as successive governments have done as though it’s some sort of sacred entity, and make it fit for purpose.
Stop doling out pay rises to the public sector without any real change in working practices and productivity.
Help small businesses instead of penalising them to help the economy.
Make all MPs’ expenses fit for purpose so it’s not some sort of slush fund they think they can use without worrying about who pays for it (the taxpayer).
And sort out the elephant in the room – immigration.
Maybe when the above are on track there may be money for other things.
Labour came in claiming they are better than the Tories but they are just the same – they talk big but act small. Gary, Essex
‘Who have you got left after protecting working people?’ questions reader
Like many, I’m waiting in trepidation for the budget on November 26.
And I’m confused by what appear to be two contrary pledges by the government – to protect working people, and to make those with the widest shoulders bear the greatest burden.
Who have you got left after protecting working people? The old, young, disabled and others such as carers and single parents who are not always able to work.
Pensioners and the disabled have already felt the chill winds of cuts, while child poverty is at horrendous levels.
We should look after each other in a more inclusive manner, targeting those whose money goes to tax havens so as not to further impoverish those who are on modest incomes. Jane Wess, London
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments