tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212152.post-13031026140103408552008-03-25T17:40:00.000Z2008-03-25T17:40:00.000Z2008-03-25T17:40:00.000ZIt's so nice to see that people have their priorities straight and are involved in such reasoned debate, both in this post and on the previous one on the topic today.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.<BR/><BR/>Where to begin? Firstly, great to see people are getting so worked up about BBC expenses, which I'm sure are being utilised just like the £20,000 second home allowance in Parliament or the ridiculous lack of accountability for out of pocket expenses, and Nick Robinson is clearly behaving just like Michael Martin or Derek Conway. Because there is just so much evidence for it. So let's focus on that instead of the real problem in Parliament. Ahem. Or is the blog about rumours and conspiracy creating them itself now?<BR/><BR/>Secondly, re 1:48, Nick's response? No, I think you're referring to the BBC's response, all Nick has done is refer people to the editorial response to Guido's request and to this blog. God forbid he reports things that have happened, anyone would think it's his job or something. (Oh, hang on a minute...) If you're going to moan about things and say this is why people are "so suspicious", try referring to something that people should be suspicious about, not a reporter reporting things. After all, are decisions on FOI requests within his remit? Doubtful at best, eh?<BR/><BR/>And as for the comments at 3:12 and 3:47, I refer back to my previous point. Should we not be more worried about MP's expenses? Paying the licence fee is voluntary (though to read some of the posts around here you'd think that this was an alien concept), whereas tax that pays MPs et al isn't, no matter what some people may like to think, so we're all funding a second home for Michael Martin even though he has a grace and favour apartment. I'm not saying the BBC should be isolated from accountability to those who fund it, but really, get a grip on the wider perspective.<BR/><BR/>P.S. How ironic that I see the advert at the top of this page is trying to tell me to buy Yes Minister from the BBC Shop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com