Are Labour trying to silence John Redwood ?

Today in his blog John Redwood outlines the Labour spin operation over Rover and how successful it has been in diverting attention form government failures over Rover.

He also points out that this is only possible due to the considerable influence New Labour still has over journalists and editors. ( I would say especially at the BBC. )

He then goes on to say how he had been put on standby to appear on Newsnight, and asked not to accept any other offers for media appearances, but then his appearance was cancelled due to orders from higher up.

Could it be that there's a view on the credit crunch that the BBC wishes to suppress ?

This just goes to show that the BBC is hopelessly politically compromised and must be disbanded by an incoming Conservative Govt.

John Redwood wins Newsnight

Finally the BBC invites John Redwood onto Newsnight.

We had some ex-member of the MPC, followed by Angela Eagle and the ever BBC present Red Vince Cable - giving variations on how wonderful things are - but not explaining the problem to the public.

Then came an quietly angry John Redwood.

First he explained that he was the only one of the 4 people being interviewed to take a different line from the govt ( good side swipe at the BBC there John ) and how where we are today is a result of people like him not being listened to. Kirsty Walk tried to give Angela Eagle a chance to knock that down, but John was having none of that - he wanted to make his point.

And his point was the banks aren't lending because another branch of the government - the regulator - is telling them not to.

A point of such power that immediately everyone else had to agree with it - although Red Vince did his best to distance himself from the brand of John Redwood.

What struck me about this was:

1) At last an angry right win commentator wins through by being forceful.
2) A basic and key point about the crisis was being hidden by the BBC film introduction and all three left of centre commentators. A point they all had to acknowledge once it had been made.

Well done to John Redwood - I'd like to see more of this sort of aggressive and insightful debating style. Angela Eagle was made to look wooden and Vince Cable out of his depth with the BBC looking complicit in a pro-Govt stitch up.

A good nights work.

Update: A full report is available on John Redwood's blog here.