Justin Webb says there is 'context' for racist violence on BBC Radio 4 Today
On BBC Radio 4 Today, presenter Justin Webb said pressures such as housing shortages provide "context" for anti‑migrant attacks, arguing community strain can help explain outbreaks of racist violence in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK. Webb asserted that in some areas migrants have gained access to services that local people cannot, a factual claim critics disputed during the programme. Critics accused Webb of brushing over reports of masked rioters targeting Black and brown residents and noted his past use of Transgender Trend when questioning trans suicide statistics. The exchange matters because it raises questions about how BBC presenters frame causes of racist violence and where explanation becomes the risk of appearing to excuse or normalize attacks.
Justin Webb now stating as fact that in Northern Ireland - and across the U.K. - for years people ‘have been able to come here and get access to services’ that local people can’t Is there any evidence for this? Why is a presenter on the BBC stating this as fact?
Robert Saunders371Another item began with a declaration (to paraphrase) that "we keep being told that violent crime is falling, but it doesn't feel like that". As if how people "feel" is just an independent variable to which the news has to respond, rather than something that inaccurate reporting helps to shape.
Beta Papa76Because BBC editorial policy is right wing. Example- yesterday they led with a quote from the leader of a far right fringe party with 3% support.
Dr Julie Doughty41surprisingly, R4 this week had a programme (More or Less) that debunked a report by a 'right leaning' thinktank about employment rates for young people, as 'nonsense'. Falsely claimed a rate of 27:1 (!) for non UK born:UK born. BBC needs more of that sort of reporting.
antimogi.bsky.social40Justin Webb, a right wing bigot who identifies as an impartial journalist.
Helen28Because Justin Webb is a liar, and holds pretty extreme far right views. He also claimed - to a BBC guest - that trans suicide rates were exaggerated. His source was Transgender Trend.
Kate22Justin Webb is a fascist and its high time people started to recognise that. The man is an odious anti trans campaigner.
David19No it’s not fact it’s a perception. As I live in Belfast I hear this perception from both staff and customers alike.
Fionna O’Leary14Because it is Justin Webb
❄️ endofthenight99 ❄️🏳️🌈11And we collectively pay the BBC for this kind of biased reporting of facts
cancelled-by-elon.bsky.social11Because the BBC is a tool of class power. Manned at the top almost entirely by privately educated and overpaid tossers who'll go which ever way the low-tax, low-regulations wind is blowing.
Rob Miller10Webb is a fascist or at least a fascist enabler. He can't wait to be appointed head of propaganda by Farage or Lowe. Massive transphobe too.
PJ9That’s why we are where we are, it’s driven narratives by a complicit right media with right wing journalists for right wing owners. They stay quiet when it’s a white perpetrator or white domestic abuser, or white kiddy fiddler 🤬
Dave8This is why I have pretty much stopped using the BBC as a news channel. There's a layer of dead wood there that was installed during the tory years and it needs to be turfed out.
Dr Jennifer Jones7I'm old enough to remember when journalists and broadcasters understood that language matters. Refusing to say that arsonist/far-right terrorists torched those houses is criminally bad reporting. We cannot let them normalise violence like this – that way US-style madness lies.
fionnuala4000.bsky.social7The British commentariat class are bringing far-right conspiracist talking points into mainstream discussion.
Michael Cleary7Because he’s a right wing goon and has been for at least a decade
Jenn de Jeune5Justin has been a self-righteous opinionated idiot for quite some time, he has been virulently anti Trans for years & never knowingly let an opportunity pass to platform his anti Trans opinions on R4 Today. No reason to believe he would behave any differently for anything else.
Chris Hutchings #ChoirsForClimate5The only credible example of this would be English classes! And that's because local people don't need them! (Insert obvious cheap joke hre)
Cora Peeta M 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇦🇶🇺🇳5Any exact quotes we can feed into the pointless complaint process without having to listen to him actually talking on catchup?
Pete Fraser5It was a wholly disgraceful segment. I’ve never made a complaint to the BBC til today.
Phil Jones' body double4"They are on a permanent holiday living in luxurious hotel accommodation we can't afford FOR FREE" Oh, you might want to read this if you haven't already. bsky.app/profile/anoo...
Todd Kendall3Justin Webb is one of the reasons Today is unlistenable. Before he was posted to the US he seemed a genuinely even-handed BBC type. Something seems to have happened to him.
robod99.bsky.social3Didn't you know local councils reserve a stock of luxury mansions for migrants which is why your granny can't get a flat. There's also a secret NHS just for migrants, no problem getting appointments there. Repetition > Facts.
RW3This same propaganda is used here in the States, with the same repetition from the media. Maga believes it is fact that immigrants get free healthcare and other benefits, which is not true at all.
Ben Sowton3Remember the days of John Humphries and Brian Redhead? Fondly. Now we have 2 right wing propagandists. It’s shameful
Cordelia de Chair3I hear it often from people at bus stops, people serving me in Co-op. Are they getting the same memo on Facebook?
Jack Liu3Justin Webb is a right wing provocateur and the sooner this is understood the better.
all-a-mort.bsky.social3The BBC is now just GB News wearing an expensive suit.
Whatever it is, I didn't do it.2They're now pandering to the likes of Bari Weiss, and her puppeteer and thirty four time felon. Lay down with dogs and all that.
Vin Totton2been saying for some time that BBC is full of reporters - 'he said, she said' and not journalists. Peter you need to apply!
Turned off after the Naomi Long interview, in which Justin Webb repeatedly pushed the line that people are routinely crossing the border undetected and over which Stormont has no control Can’t wait for the solution to that one…
Jim Nicholson36Likewise... my wife had to turn the radio off to prevent me from hurling it into the garden.
sonofcathan4Which is why Brexit was always a stupid idea and could never work in any practical sense. "We could have got away with Brexit; if it wasn't for those pesky kids in Northern Ireland".
Nobody. That's me.2Webb is a very odd man.
David2True. Close the border with the South? The DUP will be wetting their knickers at that prospect…🙄
Radio interviews are hard. Dealing with which policies are delegated matters is complex. Legal and illegal asylum seeking is often confused and confusing. All that said, the Justin Webb interview of Naomi Long on R4 this morning was just dismal. Today can do better than this.
Richard Foster6Justin Webb is dreadful. But he's one of the special ones who are allowed to voice political opinions and host right wing nutjobs. Others get warnings for hosting informational podcasts about heat pumps.
Alex Sutherland2Yep. She absolutely nailed the response though. Basically those are the talking points we need to have repeated over and over.
