Update: 29/05/2024


** 36 days to go - Here’s what you need to know.
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Dear John,

We’re still over a month out from election day, and the British media is once again derelict in its duties in relation to fair election coverage.

Yesterday morning Nigel Farage held a press conference in Dover, despite his “reluctant” decision not to stand for Reform. Mainstream media outlets – as they’ve done for years now – gave Farage an unprecedented amount of air time to espouse his toxic and extreme ideology on national television. Worse, some journalists (like the BBC’s Chris Mason) failed to sufficiently challenge him on his failures and lies.

He’s also set to appear on BBC Question Time tomorrow night, his first time on the programme since 2019. They just can’t say no to him.

We’re not an American two-party system, and it’s right that third parties get to be included in national debates. However, Nigel Farage is not on the ballot anywhere. He’s clarified plans to jet off to America and support the Trump campaign.

And while Farage gets to bathe in the limelight, other third parties are being systematically under-represented in the media. The Greens, for example, have received far less coverage than Reform UK so far, despite the fact that they’re now (according to a new poll ([link removed]) ) even more popular with under-30s than the Conservatives.

The big story today is a familiar one: a media apparatus that chooses shock and awe over discourse and dialogue. Farage is a dangerous spectacle, one that generates views and clicks for media companies.
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In other news:
* BBC correspondent Geeta Guru-Murthy apologised ([link removed]) on air this morning after accusing Farage of using “customary inflammatory language” at his conference in Dover. Is it “unbalanced” for journalists to call a spade a spade?
* Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer are set to participate in their firstdebate ([link removed]) sometime next week. Notably, no third party leaders will be present, despite the fact that Britain is a multi-party democracy and not an American presidential system.
* Sunak’s “National Service” announcement unsurprisingly seems to be linked to another major spike for Labour in the polls ([link removed]) .
* Labour have restored the whip to left-wing MP Diane Abbott, but will reportedly block her from standing again at the next election. Labour leadership have been accused of handling the debacle ([link removed]) poorly.
* Angela Rayner was cleared ([link removed]) of wrong-doing yesterday in the police probe on her council flat. Unclear (but unlikely) whether right-wing media or Conservative MPs who pushed the accusation will apologise.

Thanks for reading and enjoy your Wednesday.

All the very best,

The Open Britain Team
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