For the 45th consecutive time I have been invited, organised and then blocked at the last moment from a mainstream media appearance.
On Sunday I received this email from Channel 4:
Channel 4 have cleared their schedule for a live, hour long prime-time programme on Scottish Independence at 10pm on Wednesday 17th September in Edinburgh. I was wondering whether this is something you would consider being involved in?
With just hours to go before Scotland votes, the fate of the whole United Kingdom hangs in the balance. Jon Snow is hosting the debate live from Edinburgh, and will be joined by major politicians, voters, campaigners and well known faces from all across the United Kingdom to thrash it out one last time before the polls open.
We will have a panel of guests, and a front row of experts who will all join the discussion and we would love if he would consider coming along.
Do give me a call if you need more information or have any questions, we’d love to have you on the show if possible
On Monday I phoned them and agreed the details and they told me where to go. This afternoon they cancelled me because “the panel was full”. It was not full when they invited me or agreed everything.
Regular readers will know this happens again, and again, and again. I am invited to a programme, then shortly before the appearance am cancelled because some blocking mechanism steps in. The determination of the establishment to keep dangerous dissent off the airwaves is still implacable – even in Edinburgh tonight. By Friday they will look pretty forlorn.
.
Maybe it’s like flight reservations. You got ‘bumped’ Craig. Do you know any on the panel?
Ben
Think more carefully. This has happened to me the last 45 consecutive times I have been invited on to mainstream TV. It is not like flight reservations.
More like being on a no flight list.
I thought only women watched TV these days!?
Craig
Let’s focus on this time and not the previous 44 ones, shall we?
Perhaps the producers had second thoughts after having been made aware of some of your posts on here? For instance, labelling George Robertson “the third arse from the left” and recounting that you shouted “war criminal” at Ed Milliband at a rally on independence may have given them the idea that you were not the right person for this particular programme and subject.
I suspect they are worried that you will go off the topic and say something that is potentially libellous – possibly with some cause.
Charge a cancelation fee. £1000 sounds about right.
It is a badge of honour that you are seen as persona non grata to the powers-that-be who obviously issue vetoes to the (state) broadcasters.
Channel 4 and Channel 4 News is one of these, the latter being an offshoot of ITN News.
Ceaseless e-mails of complaint go from Medialens contributors to Channel 4 presenters – Snow, Newman, Frei, Guru-Murthy etc. – for bias and misreporting.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-great-british-break-up-the-live-debate
~~~
Look at the connections of the board members …. Santander ex Treasury, Waitrose and buddy of P Charles, the legal profession, Mothercare ex Unilever, DTZ Holdings (integrated property services??), Aegis plc, Press Association, journalism, media, advertising, PR and so on. Not one from any of the caring professions or academia. There are several connections to the BBC needless to say.
http://www.channel4.com/info/corporate/about/channel-4-board
Well if they didn’t want you on then they wouldn’t ask you in the first place.
I’m afraid the boring non- establishment-neocon conspiratorial truth is that the media shortlist dozens of names in preparation for an interview/debate and then choose the best they can get from those who are available.
Well, after 45 incidents someone must have made inquiry…https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/craig_murray_and_media_appearanc
Dear Mr Jackson,
I refer to your request under the above legislation for information about what communications the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have had with media outlets (the BBC and Channel 4) about Craig Murray as a potential guest or interviewee on programmes such as (but not limited to) Question Time.
I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that this department does not hold any information which might be relevant to your request.
I hope you are satisfied with this reply. However, if you wish to make a complaint or if you would like a review of our decision, please write to the Information Rights Team at The Old Admiralty Building, Room SG 120, London, SW1A 2PA. E-mail: HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]” [email protected]. You have 40 working days to do so from the date of this letter.
Always the bridesmaid, and never the bride.
“The determination of the establishment to keep dangerous dissent off the airwaves is still implacable”
Absolute rubbish. I’ve been listening to the BBC on and off all day and have heard at least as many articulate and persuasive voices from the Yes side as the No. Perhaps they just don’t want you, Craig?
THey are afraid of Craig Murray, because nothing is more dangerous in their eyes than a well-informed person who will simply speak the truth, and is not beholden to any other power or person. Craig’s opinions are unpredictable, because they are his own, not learned from some catechism.
He is especially dangerous because he has gazed deeply and from very close range into the inner workings of this country’s “permanent government.”
On Friday it’ll be water under the bridge because Scotland will have voted for independence, perhaps by a substantial margin. That’ll be a form of sweet revenge. I don’t think Craig’s ever been guilty of libel, ‘guilty’ perhaps of daring to tell the truth about the swine who rule the country, certainly, but then, what person of honour and integrity could do otherwise?
@ JimmyGiro
“Always the bridesmaid, and never the bride.”
“Do you cut and paste your own voice, Mary?”
“Do deep fried mars bars, taste the same if they’ve been fried in the same fat as the fish?”
You used to make considered comments. Now you just sneer.
Being a NO supporter has brought out the worst in you.
You rock Craig, I don’t agree with your Russian angle but in this case, absolutely YES!
There’s a lot of twats that visit your site and have nothing positive to say isn’t there?
I love you Craig, but if I were planning a live TV debate with you up against a bunch of establishment neanderthals, I would have some worries!
The fact this has become a pattern (since the Esler interview re Assange, I assume?) is clearly more than a little suspicious, but I might just be inclined to give Channel 4 some latitude here. Their rudeness however, disinviting you so late, is another matter.
This is interesting. I’ve long wondered why the criticism of the yes campaign has been directed exclusively towards the BBC, and this is the first post I’ve ever seen in connection with another national broadcaster. Is this because coverage of the independence campaign has been markedly different on STV and Channel Four Scotland?
I genuinely don’t know the answer (I haven’t been keeping tabs) and would be interested in other people’s views.
Yeah Craig they done the same thing to Rev Stuart Campbell, he appeared once on STV, he gave them the facts, and he rebutted the accusations, with style, he hasn’t had another invite by STV since.
I’d imagine though with your background the media moguls, may well be frightened to take you on, as they don’t want to hear the truth.
Yet lying barstewards like Gordon Brown get oodles of airtime.
I have no doubt that Craig is blocked. Would be interesting to know who else is blocked and whether for eg Peter Dale Scott blocked in US?
I remember Chris Spivey being invited onto several radio station programmes only for them to be cancelled at the last minute, Spivey got the usual excuses other speakers over ran,the programme was rescheduled, and a few other lame excuses. Spivey persisted and he’s now spoken on several radio station programmes.
After a YES vote has been attained you may find the media change their tune towards you Craig, after all many value your opinion.
Live George Square YES rally.
http://new.livestream.com/IndependenceLive/YesInfoRally?logged_in=1410964637
Manic, wide-eyed Scottish crowds chanting “Yes we can!” like half-witted American evangelicals.
I can’t see how this can end well.
Although I’m not a fan of his there are alternatives such as Alex Jones internet radio show and LBC which is now available UK wide on DAB.
Contemporary MSM are more about entertainment, social engineering and political correctness, not really having any need or desire to inform or educate the population. Very few serious topical current affairs programmes are made, in the past I can think of World in Action, This Week and Weekend World from ITV and even BBC’s Panorama was once a serious and much longer current affairs show. Now not even a decent political satire such as Spitting Image is produced. The population are not intended to think and consider just consume and swallow reality TV garbage and do as they’re told and for the most part, this is indeed what they do.
I think if CM is seriously off the MSM radar then they would not have made contact at all. There are maverick characters invited on such as George Galloway who do voice their uncensored opinions. I think it is all about being more widely known in the public eye.
Channel 4 is the other state-owned broadcaster, it only plays, it only plays, it only plays *bump* its master’s voice.
The panel: Vivienne Westwood (dressmaker or something like that), Brian Cox (actor), Pat Kane (musician), Elaine C (Rab C. Nesbitts woman) and Lesley Riddoch (Journo).
Comment?
Brown sounded as if he has lost the plot. Rehearsed especially the arm movements.
Scottish Independence: Gordon Brown Delivers Speech Of His Life In Defence Of The United Kingdom
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/17/gordon-brown-scottish-independence-
Even the dead were invoked.
‘We fought two world wars together. There is not a cemetery in Europe that does not have Scots, English, Welsh and Irish..’
Sickening hypocrisy when you think to his signing of the cheques for BLiar’s illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/17/gordon-brown-scottish-independence-speech_n_5834678.html
The good news.
Labour To ‘Cancel Annual Party Conference’ If Scotland Votes ‘Yes’
Manic, wide-eyed Scottish crowds chanting “Yes we can!” like half-witted American evangelicals.
I can’t see how this can end well.
———————–
Its called passion, you know when people care about the future,of Scots and Scotland, and you’re right you can’t see.
It sounds like a good panel to me, all are great in their own fields and in their ability to present compellingly, the over-whelmingly positive message and strong case, for Scotland’s independence. It must have been a tough choice, however they can surely expand it, tell them you’ll bring your own chair 🙂 Have a good night Craig, the next few days will be epic, tears will only be those of joy, history is being made. Debate has given over to celebration, the dreary NOs, the haters, the puppets on strings, not only having egg on their faces, but ashamed, and so they might be, but hope they won’t be bad losers too. Join Yes, be Yes live Yes, even now.
Tony M
“but hope they won’t be bad losers too”
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I second that – and hope it applies if the Noes win as well.