In the extensive #BBC coverage of local #elections in the #UK, I’ve seen and heard not a single reference to local issues or how local councils performed. It is all interpreted only as an indication of popularity of national politics.

I understand the connection to national politics, and I’m not asking this to be denied. However, this is both bad journalism and biased coverage. It’s bad journalism as it ignores a large part of what local elections are about, and fails to hold local government to account on anything they do.

It’s biased as it projects national issues on local elections, and supports the main national parties, with no value given to smaller parties, local parties and independent candidates, who might pay an important role locally. In effect, the BBC is encouraging people to vote according to national issues, not local.

#ukpol #media