The reason the political parties retain their iron grip on power, even when exposed to all as corrupt self-seekers, is that they have the ability, brutally, to grind down all opposition. Trying to stand against it is soul-destroying. I got two hours sleep last night. The Tories are bringing in over a hundred full time workers to the constituency. So far I have eight local part time volunteers, and myself.
BBC Newsnight last night ran a profile of all the candidates – but excluded me. I am truly shocked about it. We have delivered twelve thousand leaflets so far, taken two full page adverts in the local press, and announced and advertised in the media a series of six public meetings for which the halls are booked. Yesterday we had sent a press release specifically to Newsnight. And Michael Crick, who did the Newsnight report, certainly knows I am standing:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight
So do the bookies, where I am ahead of the Lib Dems and the Greens in the odds – but still very worth a flutter.
Martin Bell has commented “It is very wrong that Craig Murray was not featured on Newsnight. He is a serious candidate, and serious independents must be given fair coverage by the media alongside the major political parties.”
I truly think that Newsnight’s behaviour is outrageous.
Newsnight’s behaviour is always outrageous. Get used to it.
The whole BBC is a ZaNu Labour propaganda machine that is now blowing valves all over the place as they see the possibility of their lords and masters being ejected at any future (possible) election.
If you had a serious chance of winning, rather than the 33/1 or 100/1 I’ve seen, you might be featured.
The fact that you have come out of nowhere, expecting to win when you have done NOTHING to connect with the people, but arrogantly want to represent them anyway, despite not having done any political or community work in the area, is astounding.
You think all parties are corrupt. Your inability to distinguish between them is your downfall. Bit like how you couldn’t see the moral trouble with running off with a belly dancer less than half your age, abandoning your wife and kids.
Craig, are your press adverts copied anywhere online? I’d like to add them to your page on twtwfy:
http://twtwfy.wikia.com/wiki/Craig_Murray
I agree.
Let me know when and where I can help. I live in Bedforshire NE but I should be able to get across to Norwich for at least one day.
Denim Justice,
Do you not think that part of the reason independents are so unlikely to win is that the media never takes them seriously and never informs people about them & their policies?
If equal coverage & seriousness were given to all candidates in all elections then we’d have a much healthier democracy. Instead, everything outside a very small band is marginalised and undermined.
In modern politics the margins are far wider than the body of the page. The only words that fit on the page are “More of the same.”
The media isn’t an objective bystander in politics; it’s the biggest influence of all.
Just as a point of information you are not ahead of the Greens and the Lib Dems at the bookies.
Ladbrokes are offering the following odds;
Conservatives 1/5
Labour 9/2
Greens 12/1
Ian Gibson 14/1
Craig Murray 33/1
Liberal Democrats 33/1
UKIP 100/1
BNP 200/1
Saw the segment on Newsnight, and was mightily disappointed that your campaign didn’t even get a mention. However, given the consistent reluctance of the Beeb to cover Independent campaigns, I will confess I was not all that surprised.
But there was one other point that did surprise me. When Newsnight did the obligatory broadcast of declared candidates, your name did not show up.
Here’s a link below to the BBC iPlayer with last night’s episode. Relevant clip is at around 21.10 minutes into the programme.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/newsnight
Now maybe you haven’t formally declared your candidacy – I don’t know electoral processes well enough – in which case, there is no issue here. If you have however declared, it is a colossal screw-up by Newsnight, given other independent and minor party candidates were all listed.
Our ‘democracy’ is an illusion and Craig is not a Friend of Israel nor will he be. ZBC will have that fact in their reckoning. Remember their disgraceful action over the DEC appeal for Gaza, their decision not to broadcast the Caryl Chuchill play, and their latest reporting of Milipede’s ‘clarifying the facts’ instead of firm FCO action in relation to the piracy and kidnapping of the crew and passengers of Free Gaza’s boat The Spirit of Humanity by the Israeli navy.
And Denim Justice can f off from this site.
I’m not surprised by anything The Lie Factory does.
Overpaid Oxbridge tossers.
Their sins of omission are shocking.No wonder so many are rejecting the MSM now.
Keep on keepin’ on Craig.
@ Denim justice.
Get off your faux-moral high horse.
Who the hell are you to cast the first stone about other people’s private lives and choices?
I left a comment here
http://tinyurl.com/mldl6r
for Newsnight, which has been well received by other commenters who seem to be very interested to hear about Craig.
I left another one here
http://tinyurl.com/moajhz
for Michael Crick.
Maybe someone would like to join me. My “handle” over there is globalissues.
Denim Justice
Which is the squeaky clean party then?
During the Haltemprice and Howden by-election on 10th July 2008, the BBC had plenty of time for Jill Seward’s rape awareness campaign:
http://jimmygiro.blogspot.com/2008/10/statistics-raped-by-election.html
And she was trounced, coming behind the BNP and the ‘Miss Great Britain’ party, despite there being no ZanuLabour or LibDems standing, to dilute the vote.
The BBC will support any independent view… as long as it is in-line with their propaganda directives.
Keep trying Craig, on a side note, have you noted the government take-over of your most hated train line?
Denim Justice won’t reply, because he’s a party hack troll with no interest in debate.
A very sad and sorry character.
Denim Justice might (inadvertently) have a point. Craig is an *interesting* candidate, and it might be disproportionately helpful to him to give him air time – for a colourful character, all publicity is certainly good publicity.
My guess is the BEEB’s omission was deliberate and carefully considered. And perfectly sensible, of course, given their agenda.
Yes, it is sad that they didn’t mention Craig on the piece.. I also thought that the pro-Tory bias was shocking. I am no fan of Labour, and will not vote for them, but the BBC are gleefully waving the Tories in the door…
I am not sure what this ZBC/Zu Labour stuff is. I am have never noticed BBC to be pro-Labour, only pro establishment in whatever form it takes.. I can also only hope that the Z does not stand for Zionist, becuase I think that would be mistaken.
“The fact that you have come out of nowhere, expecting to win when you have done NOTHING to connect with the people, but arrogantly want to represent them anyway, despite not having done any political or community work in the area, is astounding.”
I think Denim Justice has just come up with Gordon Brown’s 2010 campaign manifesto: “Brass necking it.”
Sorry to be a bore and come back to this point (original post at 11.28), but does Craig or anyone here know why Newsnight omitted Craig’s name from the list of declared candidates?
That’s what I was thinking Ed. If Craig has officially registered then Newsnight will be required to broadcast a correction.
Jimjay –
yes, you are right about the odds. Apologies.
MJ, Ed,
Nominations do not officially open until 3 July (and close 10 July). But the writ has been moved in Parliament. So I am not precisely sure of the legal case in this three day window between the moving of the writ and the opening of nominations.
Thanks Craig – afraid nominations, writs, official openings etc don’t mean a whole lot to me.
I just saw last night you weren’t an ‘officially declared candidate’ and the simpleton in me went, “Huh? That must be wrong.”
Yes but presumably they managed to list the other candidates, including UKIP and BNP?
Good luck with the campain Craig! On another note,I found your posts on the maritime laws concerning Iraq,Iran and Britain a couple of years ago very interesting, do you have any comment on the recent events concerning the “Free Gaza boat” and Isreal. The comment on this article http://bit.ly/KK1jR Iraises a lot o questions, especially as there are a number of British Crew members.
Regards, Robbie
So what do you do about BBC bias in a case like this, write to your MP ?
Craig, Mike Smithson did a post about you on political betting:
http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2009/06/30/does-the-sacked-ambassador-have-a-chance-in-norwich/
I thought it rather complimentary.
I found exactly the same problem with the media when I stood as an independent with Jury Team at the Euro Elections. Mind you, I did get fleeting mentions on the BBC. The commercial media was shocking. Despite literally hundreds of press releases being sent, nary a word made it to print.
However, the BBC is publicly funded and has a duty to be impartial. Their coverage of UKIP played a significant part in the final result.
Good luck in Norwich Craig. Your best bet is doorstepping. It may seem more cost-effective to leaflet the town centre but in my experience, doorstep canvassing brings better results.
“what do you do about BBC bias in a case like this, write to your MP ?”
No, you complain to BBC Newsnight, via their website. A volume of complaints does get noticed and acted upon.
Make a couple of totally outrageous statements…they will be all over you !
Good luck pal.