Monthly Archives: September 2012

Following the preceding post I have decided to email my Member of Parliament with a view to resolving exactly what or what not was said.

In view of the importance of the omitted words – which in themselves constitute not only a commitment by David Cameron but a definitive statement of future policy – clarification is most necessary.

For the avoidance of doubt readers may wish to refer to Article 50 of The Treaty on European Union (TEU) because by using Article 50 it would mean that David Cameron is stating that he would be seeking the cessation of the UK’s membership of the European Union and would be negotiating a new agreement.

With the aim of complying with my wish for political transparency please find below copies of my email to David Cameron (which has been sent to his PA in Parliament and to his local constituency association with a request that they confirm that my email has been passed to him) and the FOI request submitted to the BBC.

1.

“Dear Mr. Cameron,

When you were interviewed by James Landale, BBC, in Rio  – BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19761017 a friend of mine and his wife are adamant that,when pressed by Landale, you were heard to say: “that in the next parliament we would use Article 50 to renegotiate a new relationship with the EU”. On BBC iplayer that passage was omitted and the entire 6 O’Clock News broadcast is now no longer available. On Radio 4′s news – http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mtqht/Six_OClock_News_28_09_2012/#comments – 5 minutes in, there is a break in the interview in which Landale uses the word ‘opt-out’ and it is just before that ‘intermission’ that the alleged words were uttered.

I would be grateful for your confirmation that the words alleged were said and, if possible, for you to provide a transcript of the interview. As you will understand it is vitally important that this matter of what, or what was not, said is clarified. If you did indeed say the words alleged then this is a commitment on your part and would, under the terms of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, mean that it would be your intention to formally notify the EU of the wish of the United Kingdom to leave and negotiate a new agreement.

In view of the seriousness of the words omitted in respect of the method by which you will seek to ‘renegotiate powers’ it is important that everyone should be aware of who made the editorial decision to omit the alleged words – and why. To this end I have also submitted an FOI request to the BBC seeking that information.

I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerely,

David Phipps”

2.

“Sir,

I wish to make a Freedom of Information request in respect of the BBC1 and Radio 4 editions of the 6 O’Clock News broadcast on 28th September 2012

During the interview – as originally broadcast – by James Landale in Rio with David Cameron, when pressed by James Landale David Cameron said: “that in the next parliament we would use Article 50 to renegotiate a new relationship with the EU”. Those words were omitted from the clip contained in the following BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19761017 – likewise not only in the edition that was available on iplayer but is no longer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_one/20120927 - but also in the Radio 4 news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mtqht/Six_OClock_News_28_09_2012/#comments – and in view of the importance of those words when considering David Cameron’s planned policy of seeking repatriation of power it becomes a commitment, because if using Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty it would mean that he intended to seek cessation of the UK’s membership of the European Union and then negotiate a new form of membership – and bearing in mind David Cameron has never previously said that was his policy, those words are very very important and must be considered newsworthy.

In view of the foregoing, I would like to know:

1. Who made the editorial decision to omit the words in question;
2. On what basis;
3. Was the omission made at the request of a third party – specifically, someone employed in 10 Downing Street, David Cameron or someone acting on his behalf;

I look forward to your response within the statutory 20 days.

Yours sincerely,

David Phipps
(Address & Tel Nbr redacted)”

Needless to say readers will be kept informed of any responses that may be received.