Today's show 10/10/11

Hello Paddy!

Another Monday, and again JV is away and stitched you up with the scrapings from an empty barrel labelled "Monday News". Oh well...

Today's issue that affects me: Who are you?

As I was saying...

1) POLITENESS AWARDS - A new report says that, contrary to what we might think, the British are becoming politer. For one day only, take part in the Radio 2 Politeness Awards 2011. Who would you like to nominate? Find out more from Mail Online : There is an obvious and easy answer to this question: Howard Schultz from Starbucks, who despite Jeremy's attempts to ridicule, humiliate and trap remained cool, calm, collected and polite while giving Jeremy the kind of responses that had been overdue for many, many years. Somehow though I don't think he will be on your show today, so I have no need to listen. And it is good to see the Daily Mail making a slow but steady return as the prime source for your discussion topics. We all knew you could not live without it!
No Daily Mail = No Jeremy Vine Show. Next...

 

2) LIAM FOX - The Defence Secretary Liam Fox has apologised over the row in which his best friend was allowed to take part in top-level meetings. Have you ever tried to help a friend get on and then regretted it? : No. Next...

3) MISCARRIAGES - Women who suffered miscarriages are being put through emotional torture when they are placed in the same wards as mothers and babies. Find out more from the Press Association : I am sure that this must be horrible, but I am still not a woman. Next...

4) SPITTING - This man from Enfield Council is trying to ban spitting. Is spitting ever acceptable? : "And our special expert guest in the studio today is ... Bob Carolgees". If only! Have a Gold Star for discussing "banning", Jeremy will be proud of you.

 

Knowing of your intimate knowledge of everything published by the Daily Mail, I have no doubt that you will have seen this (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046636/MPs-paid-thousands-appear-BBC-As-Corporation-cuts-politicians-given-licence-fee-cash-TV-radio.html):

MPs paid thousands to appear on the BBC:
As Corporation cuts back, politicians are given licence fee cash to go on TV and radio

MPs are being handed thousands of pounds of licence fee money simply to appear on the BBC.
It proves the BBC has become a money-spinner for the political classes.

I am left wondering if this applies to ex-MPs too, and Galloway in particular. Last week I sent a Freedom of Information request to the BBC in which I asked two questions:

 - I would like to know how much George Galloway was paid for his appearances on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine Show during the most recent 12-month period for which you have details available.
 - I would like to know how much Jeremy Vine was paid to present his programme on Radio 2 during the most recent 12-month period for which you have details available.

I've just had my reply....

 

Freedom of Information request – RFI2011 1210
Thank you for your request to the BBC of the 4th October, seeking the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

 - how much George Galloway was paid for his appearances on Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine’s Show during the most recent 12-month period for which you have details available
 - how much Jeremy Vine was paid to present his programme on radio 2 during the most recent 12-month period for which you have details available

The information you have requested is excluded from the Act because it is held for the purposes of ‘journalism, art or literature.’ The BBC is therefore not obliged to provide this information to you and will not be doing so on this occasion.

 

Again, I am puzzled as to what information the BBC's FOI team can actually give out without falling foul (or hiding behind?) the "journalism, art or literature" veto. One of the BBC's favourite subjects is itself (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8813428/All-I-get-on-the-BBC-these-days-is-...-the-BBC.html) so how about discussing the BBC's inbred secrecy one day? I'd listen to that!

 

The Jeremy Vine Show - unless it isn't, of course