francesca mettam

The discussion about yesterdays select committee hearing allowed the participants, while complaining about the perceived racism of the interviewee, to refer to him as an old dinosaur and say it was 'what I expect from an old white bloke' and for a third panellist to imply that anyone old, white and/or male should simply not allowed to have an opinion. Why does that discrimination go completely unchallenged? I watched the select committee hearing, the man was trying to give an honest answer while clearly being mindful of not causing offence. If we react to this kind of discussion in this way ,anyone being questioned will simply lie or suppress information to protect themselves. Is that what we want in our committees, courts, inquiries and interviews of all kinds? Francesca Mettam

Thursday 25th the subject of racism in sport was discussed. The issue of Azeem Rafiq and the appalling racism he suffered was discussed and, yet again, there was no mention of his own anti semitic behaviour. At the BBC jews really don't count, this is ubiquitous across the BBC