Right-wing bias a norm on BBC and Sky news

The issue of railway fares came up and not a single one of the panellists reflected the huge public support for renationalisation. None of them raised the issue of rail company profits financed by massive public subsidies.

On the same programme the main topic for debate was the question of Julian Assange at the Ecuadorean embassy and his possible extradition to Sweden.

Every one of the panel mocked and sneered at Assange in the vilest, most bullying manner, led by Simon Heffer, one of the many right-wing pundits who pop up all the time on BBC television and radio.

None of the panellists pointed out that Assange has not even been charged with any criminal offence.

His fear that he might end up in prison in the US was ridiculed. In fact, what comments there were on his WikiLeaks activities could have come straight from the US Pentagon.

Fortunately, a listener phoned in afterwards from Sweden to point out that the Swedish police habitually travel to other countries to question people about possible offences, including a recent case of murder. He couldn't understand why the Swedish police were not prepared to interview Assange in London.

The right-wing bias in the selection of panellists on Any Questions has long been a disgrace but this was one of the worst examples in recent years.

Incidentally, how come Russia Today news and current affairs programmes can find a wide range of experts in Britain on social, economic and international affairs that are never seen on British TV?

Dafydd Hunt
Barry