Readers' letters - July 22

I am becoming increasingly despondent with the news coverage on that supposed great institution called the BBC.

After the latest atrocity committed in Nice, I wondered just how long it would be before 
a) the so-called IS would proclaim its involvement and 
b) how soon after would the BBC broadcast this propaganda?

Not long it seems in both cases.

How many times, when IS is mentioned by the BBC news team, do we see IS propaganda videos also being shown, parading its military hardware and its ‘soldiers’? Far too many times, in my opinion.

Indeed there should be no such IS propaganda being shown.

Some would argue that such promotional videos are available online. Fine, if you want to view such material online, but that is not an excuse for terrestrial broadcasters to broadcast it into our homes.

After all, there are many things online which many of us would not like shown on national news TV and at prime times, before or after the ‘watershed’!

Thus, to choose just IS promotional videos over other online content shows a lack of, er, impartiality, does it not?

Quite why the BBC bosses seem to equate ‘impartiality’ with giving terrorists free publicity is beyond my comprehension.

During the Second World War, would the BBC have dared to have given free publicity to Hitler and the Nazi regime for its atrocities, together with such a regime claiming responsibility for this and that?

So, if it was not acceptable then, why should it be seemingly acceptable now to give IS any publicity? After all, did not the same ‘impartiality’ exist then as it is supposed to now?

Sadly, it seems the rot set in when The Troubles in Northern Ireland really got going, with the BBC reporting that the various opposite factions involved were all claiming responsibility for this and that atrocity.

The BBC never thought for one moment that, rather than giving both sides the free publicity, it should actually not broadcast these claims at all.

After all, this is giving a balanced perspective on things, a degree of impartiality.

Simply using the argument that other broadcasters may well be giving this free publicity, is NO excuse for the BBC to give oxygen to these factions. This simply goes against the grain – or it should do – of it being impartial.

I am not saying the news should be sanitised, but I object to IS publicity being streamed into my lounge without me having any other choice but to view it.

Yes, I could switch off the TV, but how do I know when the IS publicity machine has ceased?

When I choose to watch a commercial broadcaster, I acknowledge that, during breaks, I will be subject to all manner of publicity material, but that is my choice.

I don’t expect the BBC in its news programmes to subject me to IS publicity material.

After all, I thought the BBC did not broadcast adverts.

Obviously this does not apply when it comes to IS and the BBC News. So much for impartiality.

An Irritated BBC Viewer

Ultra-left should form own party

Mid-1980s: Michael Foot, extreme left, CND, Gang of Four.

Thatcher decimated the Labour Party at the next General Election.

2016: Jeremy Corbyn, extreme left, CND.

Even Mystic Meg could forecast the result of the next election.

When will the Labour Party learn?

If the extreme left are so convinced that they can win the next election, why don’t they form their own party and stand for election on their own agenda?

P Barker via email

Remember Korea Fallen

I am acting on behalf of the authorities at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, South Korea , where over 800 British Servicemen are buried.

The authorities there wish to obtain photographs of those servicemen interred there, and also of those who died but have no known grave.

The photographs will be placed in the man’s records, and will also be displayed on the walls of the Cemetery Hall of Remembrance for all time.

The following names are just some of the young men from the North West, who gave their lives in Korea: Pte John Gawith; Pte Duncan Little; Pte John T S Brown; Spr James M Beck; Rfn Harold Howarth; Sgt Eric Pigg; Pte Leslie Russell; Pte Dennis H Buckley; Kgn John E Nuttall; Rfn Brian A Mulligan; Pte Henry Uttley; S/Lt Richard D Bradley(RN) L/Cpl Dennis Metcalfe; Gnr Gordon Yates and 2nd Lt John M Maycock.

Any family or friend who lost a loved one in the Korean War, 1950 to 1953, and who wishes to take part can send the photograph to me at Brian Hough, 116 Fields Farm Road, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 3NP.

If more information is required, you can phone 0161 368 5622, or 07467037742, or email [email protected]

Brian Hough, Hyde

Cut out the middlemen

I cannot understand why EU funding is such an issue for the Remain voters.

We pay in, an unelected body pays out, and they decide where the money goes.

Let’s just cut out the middle- men and apply for grants from our elected Government.

These grants would be from the savings we will not be making to the EU.

Is it not that straightforward? Have I missed something?

Jeff Banks, address supplied

Human beings a big mistake?

Animal cruelty is never-ending. A friend once told me God made a big mistake when he put people on the Earth. I think there is some truth in what he said.

But I am not saying all people are bad.

GP, Preston