From the editor: Why we can't 'just ignore' Nigel Farage
Over the last few days and weeks, we've been hearing from readers asking us to "stop giving Nigel Farage publicity" by covering news on his interventions in Hamilton, or reporting on Reform in general.
We won't be doing that. No-platforming Farage will only help Reform. There is a difference between freely providing a platform to someone and responsible reporting. Our aim is to provide the latter.
Why we'll keep covering Nigel Farage
The time for debating whether Farage has had too much media platforming is, unfortunately, over.
He did. Undoubtedly. Without the BBC and his endless invitations to Question Time we wouldn't be here now. Farage's ability to get on camera and say whatever he wants without being challenged should, frankly, be studied.
The fact is, now it's 2025 and he is going to be the next PM if polling is anything to go by. It's too late to "just ignore him".
An SNP figure suggested to me this week that if all UK media agreed to stop covering Farage and Reform, his rhetoric would be defeated. Honestly, having thought about it, I don't know if that would even reduce his reach at this stage. Maybe that would have worked 20 years ago, but more and more people are getting their news from social media. It's a completely different landscape.
For instance, everyone knows who Tommy Robinson is, and he has a big influence on UK politics despite the "mainstream media" not inviting him onto panel shows and radio broadcasts. Or think of someone like Andrew Tate. He had an absolutely massive profile, but I'd not once seen him in a traditional paper or news programme until allegations were made against him.
Regardless, in what world would all UK media outlets stop covering Farage? The same media that so regularly cheers on his anti-migrant rhetoric is not going to go for that, regardless of any moral pressure. So, maybe, you could argue that The National alone takes a stand and stops reporting on Farage. My response to that is we'd be silencing one of the few critical voices holding him accountable, leaving the friendly titles to cover Farage with no other perspective or fact checking. And who would that benefit?
READ MORE: Gerry Adams wins €100k payout after BBC libel trial
So what is The National doing about it?
Nigel Farage is a person who needs to be held to account. That's exactly how The National plans to cover Reform UK.
We won't simply provide them with a platform to say whatever they want unquestioned.
I KNOW people are frustrated seeing Farage's face all over the newspaper. People similarly send me emails complaining that Keir Starmer is in the paper too often, or Donald Trump ... the truth is these are people with power. Putting our fingers in our ears and singing "la la la" instead of being informed about their actions and the following consequences doesn't actually stop them, as much as it might provide a false sense of relief.
So we'll be covering Reform and Farage, yes. We cannot simply ignore and wish them away. Good reporting that challenges and disproves the right's lies is needed. And that's what we aim to do as we go into next week's Hamilton by-election, and in the future.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump criticises the BBC for Gaza aid misreporting as the White House accuses the broadcaster of interpreting the word of Hamas as 'the total truth'
The Trump administration has hit out at the BBC, accusing the corporation of interpreting the word of ' Hamas as the total truth'. Yesterday, 21 Palestinians were killed by IDF troops as they tried to collect aid near a distribution site in Rafah, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Previously, the Hamas-run health ministry said at least 31 people had been killed while waiting for food, laying blame on ' Israeli gunfire'. When asked about these reports, Karoline Leavitt, the US President's secretary, said the Oval Office was attempting to confirm what had transpired before speaking publicly. But in a bizarre turn of events, she basted the BBC for its coverage on the matter, accusing them of taking 'the word of Hamas with total truth.' Waving a printout of stories on the BBC website, she described how headlines had changed from accusations an Israeli tank had killed 26 people, to 21, and then again to 31 fatalities. 'Unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don't take the word of Hamas with total truth,' she said in a press conference: 'We like to look into it when they speak… unlike the BBC …' 'And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying we reviewed the footage and couldn't find any evidence of anything,' she said. 'So we're going to look into reports before we confirm them from this podium or before we take action. Taking another swipe at the broadcaster, she added: 'And I suggest that journalists who actually care about truth do the same to reduce the amount of misinformation that's going around the globe.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism. 'Our news stories and headlines about Sunday's aid distribution centre incident were updated throughout the day with the latest fatality figures as they came in from various sources. 'These were always clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of 'at least 21' at their field hospital. 'This is totally normal practice on any fast-moving news story.' Completely separately, a BBC Verify online report on Monday reported a viral video posted on social media was not linked to the aid distribution centre it claimed to show. This video did not run on BBC news channels and had not informed our reporting. Conflating these two stories is simply misleading. It is vital to bring people the truth about what is happening in Gaza. International journalists are not currently allowed into Gaza and we would welcome the support of the White House in our call for immediate access. Last week, thousands of Palestinians overran an aid distribution site in Gaza, established by a US and Israeli-backed group. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said they had to retreat due to the insurmontable numbers of people seeking aid Earlier today, 27 were killed and several were injured by IDF troops near a food site in Gaza, according to local officials. The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of people they viewed as a threat after they left a designated access route near the distribution centre in Rafah and approached their positions. It added it was still investigating what had happened. The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid much of the enclave to waste. The reports in northern and southern Gaza could not be independently verified. An International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson said its field hospital in Rafah had received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after. Video showed injured people, including at least one woman, being rushed to a medical centre on carts drawn by donkeys. Health officials said at least 18 more Palestinians were killed in other military strikes in the territory on Tuesday. The United Nations human rights office in Geneva said on Tuesday the impediment of access to food relief for civilians in Gaza might constitute a war crime and described attacks on people trying to access food aid as 'unconscionable'. The head of the U.N. agency, Volker Turk, urged a prompt and impartial investigation into the killings. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer denied that civilians had been targeted. 'The IDF is doing everything in its power to allow Gazans to get to the humanitarian aid. The IDF is not preventing the arrival of Gazans at humanitarian aid sites. Indeed, we are encouraging it,' Mencer said.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-England cricketer's daughter 'dismissed multiple times' by NHS before death
An inquest has heard how Bethan Amy James, the daughter of former England cricketer Steve James, was 'dismissed' by doctors before she died just 48 hours after being taken to hospital. The 21-year-old daughter of a former cricket star tragically died after being "dismissed" by doctors multiple times, an inquest has heard. Bethan Amy James, daughter of ex- England cricketer Steve James, passed away in hospital on February 9, 2020 after being admitted the previous day. Bethan's father, now a well-respected sports journalist, was covering Wales' Six Nations match in Ireland when she became seriously ill. Because of severe weather, he was unable to return home in time to see her before she died. The inquest into Ms James' untimely death began today at Pontypridd coroner's court, where it was revealed that Bethan had sought medical help several times before she went into hospital for the last time. Her mum, Jane James, told the inquest that she believed 'her life could have been saved', reports Wales Online. Speaking in person at the inquest, she described Bethan as a 'caring' and 'beautiful' person who always put others before herself. She explained that Bethan had suffered with gastrointestinal issues throughout most of her life, before she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019 at the age of 20. Mrs James said her daughter took her diagnosis with 'great maturity'. Prior to her death Mrs James said Bethan had been studying journalism at the University of South Wales and dreamed of being a voice for those with Crohn's and related illnesses. It was heard how Bethan had started a vlog account where she documented her experience of the condition, before she became involved in a BBC documentary with Amy Dowden, who is also diagnosed with the condition. The documentary aired after Bethan's death, and the programme was dedicated to her memory. Paying tribute to her daughter Mrs James said: 'As a person she never moaned, she never made a fuss. She was very caring. She was just beautiful. 'She put people before herself. She was more interested in other people and their stories and I think that's why she would have made a brilliant journalist.' Describing the events leading up to her death, Mrs James said Bethan had first visited her GP on January 27, 2020 with fatigue and shortness of breath. Dr Jonathan Carnell gave her an urgent referral to NHS Wales' Llandough Hospital, where she was diagnosed with possible "community acquired pneumonia" - but Mrs James said this was not verbally communicated to her or her daughter by the hospital staff. Despite her illness, Bethan attended university to deliver a presentation the next day but returned "absolutely knackered", and later reported numbness in her right arm and severe nausea, the inquest heard. Over the following days, Bethan's symptoms worsened, including involuntary movements in her right arm and difficulties using her right hand. On February 2, she was taken to A&E at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, where a doctor dismissed her symptoms as a "hemiplegic migraine." Mrs James told the inquest: "I don't feel on the 2nd that they fully assessed her." Mrs James became emotional as she recounted how her daughter collapsed on Monday, February 3, due to being "so exhausted" from the hospital visits. After this incident, Mrs James stated an ambulance was called but despite the paramedics' arrival, her daughter refused to go to the hospital, feeling dismissed by various doctors and worn out from the long hours of waiting she had already experienced. Paramedics noted that Bethan's heart rate was high, but they couldn't force her to go to the hospital, it was heard. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 5, Bethan's symptoms continued in her right arm, and she also started experiencing numbness and problems with her right leg. "Myself and my husband knew we needed to do something to try and find out what was going on," Mrs James told the inquest. She said they took her back to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales. During this visit, Mrs James said they met Dr Ngua for the second time. She described him as "very, very dismissive" of her daughter and said that he said words to the effect of: "You again! You were here on Sunday." Speaking during the inquest, Dr Ngua said he "did not mean to be dismissive" when he made that comment. He said on reflection Bethan's high heart rate could have been investigated further. Mrs James said while in the hospital waiting area a medic came and did an observation of her daughter. During this, she explained how her heart rate appeared unusually high, though this was initially dismissed by hospital staff as a fault with the machine, she said. Mrs James said a neurology referral was only arranged for the next day after she threatened to escalate the matter to the board seniors, and they went home. However, upon their arrival she said there was 'no record' of the referral appointment and that medics had 'no idea' why they were there. She described this as 'appalling'. By February 8, Bethan was more unwell at home, she said, and 'looked dreadful' with bags under her eyes, and nails so pale she thought she was wearing white nail polish. After Mrs James rang 999, the first person to arrive was a rapid response paramedic named Paul Humphries. Mrs James said Mr Humphries could not record Bethan's blood pressure properly. In hindsight Mrs James said she now knows this is a sign of sepsis. She said the 'signs' of sepsis were 'right in front' of Mr Humphries. The inquest heard how initially Mr Humphries called for a P3 ambulance response, which refers to a low priority. He later escalated this to a P2. Speaking during the inquest, Mr Humphries said he believes he dealt with Bethan appropriately, adding: 'I didn't come away from that incident thinking I did a bad job.' When an ambulance turned upm Mrs James said she didn't sense any 'rush' to get her daughter to hospital. She finally arrived at 7.45pm following a 12 minute journey, it was heard. Mrs James described that on arrival at the NHS University Hospital of Wales they had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital for a considerable amount of She said the family 'now know' there was a bed available, claiming her daughter wasn't 'deemed unwell enough' to have it. At 8.10pm Ms James was triaged before she went down to the resus deparment at 9.15pm. Mrs James said it occurred to her that her daughter was only at this point going down to where she needed to be to receive help, some three hours after the ambulance had been called. She described there being 'chaos' at the hospital as medics struggled to administer a line into Bethan, and with nobody clearly in charge of her care. Mrs James said she believes it should have been administered in her daughter's neck instead for easier access, or that she should have been taken down to intensive care. While this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could 'hardly breathe' and was 'so scared'. After a wait, Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that from this point onwards, her daughter's body lost its ability to fight. She said she was asked to leave the room at around 9.25pm before she was told that her daughter had a cardiac arrest a short time later. Mrs James recalled being told that medics were treating her daughter and asked if she wanted to be with Bethan as she passed away. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Mrs James said. She said she felt that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on and that her daughter 'should have had the right care straight away'. She added: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'It's a dead town' - voters speak ahead of Hamilton by-election
On an overcast and windy afternoon, noise is echoing from the top of Hamilton's town possible appearance of Nigel Farage in the area has sparked protest and counter-protest ahead of a Holyrood by-election, caused by the death of Christina McKelvie earlier this away from the soundbites and slogans of political confrontation, locals in the area have more direct concerns needing addressed."The town centre is dying", says Linda Smith, who has lived there for 15 years. "We need to regenerate Hamilton - at the moment it's just a nowhere town." The decline of shops in the area is noticeable, with to let signs adorning numerous premises throughout the town centre. In the Regent shopping precinct some of the biggest units lie vacant, telling a story of long departed retail giants such as Marks & Spencer, Boots and WH Smith."Hamilton town centre is like a ghost town," says Sandra Panton, 65. "It'll take years to rebuild that, because it has been years and years of mistakes there and it's a ring road for East Kilbride now. "I remember going down on the bus when I was six and it was heaving. It was a busy place – I don't know what else they can do. It's sad but it's a dead town." Local councillors are aware of the problems facing the area. Last year, South Lanarkshire Council revealed a "masterplan" that would see the shopping centre demolished, as part of a push towards creating homes and a new neighbourhood in the believes the plans look good, but is sceptical of whether they will go told BBC Scotland News whoever wins Thursday's by-election for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat must focus on rejuvenating the area, whether through shops or by increasing social housing."If there's nowhere to shop, then people will go online. Try and get the footfall up – we don't need another hotel because there is nothing for people to come to Hamilton for."It isn't just shops leaving the area. The future of local team Hamilton Academicals is uncertain after they announced plans to play at Broadwood in Cumbernauld next supporter Andy Fleming listed it among the top priorities for any new MSP. "The town centre is a disgrace, and Hamilton Accies going is another thing - I've been a season ticket holder for a good number of years and I'll not be going to Cumbernauld to see them, that's a certainty." However, Connor Sullivan, 23, who works in a family jewellery business on the town's Quarry Street, is positive about the possible changes to the town said: "People want to have a community feel to the town centre. They want something that you feel is at the centre there, like a Marks & Spencer, but you can get independent shops providing that."We are losing a lot of big businesses but the idea is you remove them and get a better focus on independents."Such an approach has helped in Larkhall, the town which forms another part of the Barr is a volunteer with the Larkhall Plan Partnership, a group working to bring "positive change" to the believes the main street there is usually busy because it emphasises local services for people."Covid taught us about the social side of shopping – it can't just be about people getting what they need and then going home. A wee chat is part of that experience." Nancy is speaking while sitting in the Lighthouse building that serves as the group's base, just up from the train station into where she and her colleagues work on a variety of ideas to promote the town, which she believes can be overshadowed through being in the same constituency as Hamilton."Folk in Larkhall hate the council with a vengeance. We were spending time putting flowers up on the main street and someone told us we'd be better spending money on fixing the pavements. "We're tempted to get bright T-shirts saying we're not the council…"The group's activities include an ongoing survey, aimed at finding out local views on everything from health services to fly most common concerns relate to struggles getting GP appointments and the ongoing cost of living crisis, says Nancy."A lot of people here are asset rich, living in a big house, but having to stay in one room because they can't afford to heat anything else."There's a 10 year discrepancy in age expectancy depending where in Larkhall you live and some of the inequality is so obvious." Sandra Panton is treasurer of the residents association in Hamilton's Hillhouse area. She has similar concerns - that the focus on the town centre means elected officials miss things happening in other parts of the constituency. Those activities include creating a gardening space and play area for kids in Dunkeld Place, where flats used by drug dealers once believes community spirit is flourishing again, thanks to the hard work of outdoor space, used for anything from summer playschemes to costumed Halloween gatherings, has helped fill a gap common in many smaller communities - of there being nowhere for teenagers to go."The young ones get hunted because people always think they're out to cause bother but there's nothing else for them to do," says Sandra. "There's no clubs, there's no cafes to go with their pals. So this is a community area that is open to anyone – you'll get young ones sitting here who'll order a McDonalds in. They just want a place to sit around." However, community efforts can only go so far. The closure of a local library and being unable to afford the let on a community hall are a "major loss" for the area, she says. "This is a community – it's taken a good few years to get back there, but we need help as well." Both volunteers speak fondly of Christina McKelvie, who died in March aged 57 after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer last summer."She'd come here when no-one else was around, so it wasn't for publicity," recalls Nancy. "There were loads of things you'd phone her about and she'd go out of her way to help us out. We felt she cared."We want an MSP who can lead, who can go in there and speak for us. We need someone to fight for us, regardless of what your party says. You have to decide whether you're for us or for the party." There are a total of 10 candidates contesting this by-election on Thursday 5 are:Collette Bradley - Scottish Socialist PartyAndy Brady - Scottish Family PartyRoss Lambie - Reform UKKaty Loudon - SNPJanice Mackay - UK Independence PartyAnn McGuinness - Scottish Green PartyAisha Mir - Scottish Liberal DemocratsRichard Nelson - Scottish ConservativeDavy Russell - Scottish LabourMarc Wilkinson - Independent
