Panorama on Farage - what a waste of money

I watched last nights pathetic BBC effort on how not to do investigative journalism. This programme has been over a year in the gestation and the BBC brought forth a pathetic reheat of old allegations. Why do we have to pay a licence fee for this drivel? Click below to watch this wate of money.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04lxvrd/panorama-the-farage-factor


It starts with a non-press conference/UKIP private meeting trying to keep undesirable hacks out. An event of no interest to anyone other than the scribblers. Then Richard North pointing out Farage's similar dagger technique to Brutus. Not quite correct. Brutus only stabbed one guy I can think of 20 or so Farage has knifed starting with former leader Knapman. They say politics is a dirty game but Farage has elevated political assassination to a whole art form in its own right.

Then onto the BBC's compulsory vox pop with one Alby Tebbutt on the streets of Romford portrayed as a racist although I heard nothing racist in what he said despite the BBC setting him up with a coloured lady who clearly had not listened to what Alby actually said. Nothing the smug arses at the BBC than mocking an ordinary decent man who happens to be a former Try. Contrast that with the much more sympathetic portrayal of former Labour voters Tony & Fay, a MS suffer whose care has of course been cut by the nasty coalition.

Then Farage criticising the nonexistent EU expense checking  Nigel likes an open goal. But what about Nigel's own little earner the Ashford call centre? Transparent? Clear as mud is a better decription. Note the associate of Nigel Farage who was involved in this operation is not named. I wonder why not? Watch that space.

Then Richard Sucherzewski stated when on UKIP's NEC in 2006 he was kept in the dark about the financial details of Ashford. (Note RS subsequently stood against NF for the leadership, suffered some nasty anonymous smears and left UKIP. He was not the last to suffer this sort of treatment.) Then back to Richard North saying the same thing and asking the same question, where did the Ashford money, £400k + go? The largest share went into the South East region, Farage's region, 2004 European campaign.

 Then back to RS talking about the need for integrity and transparency. Switch to Brussels and again no transparency on where Farage's EU money, some 4 million Euros went. Then onto a bit of LibLabCon picador wok on Farage's poor voting record in Brussels on UK fishing quotas plus a vitriolic attack from Belgian arch euro federalist Verhofstadt giving NF a bit of his own medicine.
Then the BBC weighed in with claims of Farage promoting and UKIP taking money rom e-fag makers. Then back to the excluded journos  where UKIP eventually lost when it found it had no journos. Then on to Nigel's nasty mid European neo fascist friends who help him getting more EU dosh as a group leader.

The a bit of doorstepping by Dara in the corridors of Brussels where Farage says he never instructed UKP MEPs not to speak to Panorama saying that Darra had been talking to a lot of ex-UKIP dregs of rejects. Programme then points out that many, Andreasen was a great Farage protege but when she disagreed with NF he described her as impossible and trashing her. (When on the NEC I had pointed out to Farage this woman did ot fulfil UKIP and UK electoral candidate criteria but his oppo 'sausages' Gill waived the rules.) Andreasen is now a Tory.

Ditto with Bannerman also now a Tory who wrote UKIP's unreadable 2010 manifesto. (Bannerman showed me an excerpt of his magnum opus in 2009 and was very upset when I told him  it was reheated Tory drivel) Incidentally Bannerman is no relation whatsover to the Liberal PM of around 1900. I hope the Tories know this! Farage charmingly described Bannerman as a 'idiot'. Panorama claim to have found 25 sennior UKIPers who have left after disputes with Farage. I guess I must be one.Its nice to know I am not alone but unlike A & B I have not gone off to join the Tories I cannot think of any other exUKIP NEC members who have.

Then onto Farage's withdrawal of his agreement to give Panorama an interview. This is another standard Farage tactic. Agree to do something and then renege on his commitment.

The bit I liked best was Carswell saying its nice to have a leader with whom he agrees to which Farage replied, "Its early days yet". Many a true word is spoken in jest!

It finishes up with Carswell's victory at Clacton which I guess meant some of the earlier material had to be dropped. Duffy a long time Farage sycophant could be seen waddling along behind Carswell. Watch your back Douglas!

Ends up with Farage attacking the political class Spad culture like I suppose Carswell and Richard North pointing out the obvious truth, Farage is in it for Farage. I have always thought Farage was, like all profesional politicians, a con man. He is just better at than most of the others.

I leave you wit Private Eye's latest very funny front page