GB News / Talk TV

Originally Posted by Pierre

So I do not see anyone beholden to Russia, nor detect any pro-Russia sentiment.

Farage isn’t explicitly pro-Russia, he’s just not a particularly insightful commentator. He isn’t any kind of expert on Russia so he defaults to the Great Powers mindset that still underpins a lot of commentary about its invasion of Ukraine from 2014 onwards.

His assumption that Putin is entitled to feel provoked by EU and/or NATO expansion is a worldview right out of the postwar Yalta conference that carved up Europe between Western and Eastern blocs. It implicitly supports the Russian claim to have an interest in, and influence over, the behaviour of smaller states on its borders which flies in the face of the principle that sovereign states, especially those with democratic governments, have the right to determine their own fate - a principle that has grown stronger and clearer with every day that has passed since the fall of the USSR and its so-called Warsaw Pact.

That is not how the modern world works, which is why Russia is presently being taught a costly lesson in realpolitik in southern and eastern Ukraine that will, in the next 12-18 months, result in its defeat, followed by a generation of isolation and grinding poverty. It may also have the secondary benefit of deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Farage has, however, read the situation poorly at both ends. On the one hand he’s giving credence to Putin’s actions (whilst claiming not to) by appealing to the great-power politics of the last century, he also misunderstood Putin and his willingness to invade Ukraine because he is ignorant of Russian history and particularly how that informs Putin’s sense of destiny.

The upshot of all of this is that, willingly or unwillingly, he has ended up at every turn amplifying Russia’s preferred talking points (we’re not going to invade, we were entitled to feel aggrieved, blame NATO). I don’t know whether Farage has jumped on the ‘Putin needs an off-ramp/Ukraine must be told it has to negotiate’ bandwagon but I won’t be surprised if he has.

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I'm not a Farage Fan boy, but neither do I dislike him. From your first link (which was from 2014)


and



Doesn't come across as "pro" Russian to me.

From the second link also 9 years old, which basically just has a go at him for being on RT, back in the day quotes him.

Which more of an attack on the British Government, rather than a love for Putin.

And from Ben's link - in which there is no pro-Russian comments at all.



So I do not see anyone beholden to Russia, nor detect any pro-Russia sentiment.

You're just not looking hard enough. Farage appeared regularly on Russia Today, whose own editor described it as a "weapon" of the Russian state. Russia, 9 years ago, is the same Russia as today, nothing has changed unless you think Russia 9 years ago was a land of Sunshine and Puppies where Putin was a latter day Mother Teresa.

Farage was paid by RT - the Russian state - for appearances over years.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...exit-questions

RT recognised Farage’s value way back in 2011. An ex-Ukip insider tells me how RT’s London correspondent “practically lived inside Ukip’s offices. They targeted Gerard Batten first [the current leader of Ukip] and then Farage. They loved it. RT would ask them on every week. They’d talk about anything.” Batten did not respond to the Observer’s questions about his relationship with RT.

Farage is “phenomenally useful for the Russian government,” Ben Nimmo, a leading researcher into Russian online propaganda, tells me. “The thing about RT is that they are completely open about what it is. The editor-in-chief has described it as ‘information warfare’. She has said it’s as much a part of Russia’s arsenal as its ministry of defence.”

Farage was, and still is, Putin's useful idiot.

And yes, I equate admiring Putin as being pro-Russia, YMMV ...

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by ianch99

Farage was, and still is, Putin's useful idiot

Originally Posted by Chris

The upshot of all of this is that, willingly or unwillingly, he has ended up at every turn amplifying Russia’s preferred talking points (we’re not going to invade, we were entitled to feel aggrieved, blame NATO).

[Sephiroth]

I'm not going to win this!

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I'm not going to win this!

You don't have to 'win' or 'lose' anything, people can just have different opinions. But what do you think about Farage's Russian comments?

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Damien

You don't have to 'win' or 'lose' anything, people can just have different opinions. But what do you think about Farage's Russian comments?

On balance, not impressed, now.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by ianch99

You're just not looking hard enough. Farage appeared regularly on Russia Today,

. He’s appeared on the BBC more than RT. He holds the record for most appearances on QT and that was 5 years ago.

Russia, 9 years ago, is the same Russia as today, nothing has changed unless you think Russia 9 years ago was a land of Sunshine and Puppies where Putin was a latter day Mother Teresa.

I only refer to 9 yrs as you’re the one making the accusation, and the best you can do is two very poor articles from 9yrs ago.

Farage was paid by RT - the Russian state - for appearances over years.

He was paid by all media he appeared on. After Brexit one year he made £500,000 out of appearing on all media.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...exit-questions

A very long article that says absolutely nothing

RT recognised Farage’s value way back in 2011. An ex-Ukip insidertells me how RT’s London correspondent “practically lived inside Ukip’s offices. They targeted Gerard Batten first [the current leader of Ukip] and then Farage. They loved it. RT would ask them on every week. They’d talk about anything.” Batten did not respond to the Observer’s questions about his relationship with RT.

Unsubstantiated claim

Farage is “phenomenally useful for the Russian government,” Ben Nimmo, a leading researcher into Russian online propaganda, tells me. “The thing about RT is that they are completely open about what it is. The editor-in-chief has described it as ‘information warfare’. She has said it’s as much a part of Russia’s arsenal as its ministry of defence.”

The bold is a link to an article that doesn’t mention Farage at all, the first statement is just an opinion comment that is totally unsubstantiated with any other evidence regarding Farage.

I equate admiring Putin as being pro-Russia, YMMV ...

As is your prerogative, doesn’t mean it’s correct.

I’m happy to condemn Farage as a Russian sympathiser, but only with evidence. You haven’t provided any.


It’s very much similar to the very popular “ JK Rowling is a vicious transphobic” trope.

If she’s that transphobic there must be lots of evidence, just post a few examples…………………..

Silence.

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

On balance, not impressed, now.

Maybe Nige is the type of chap who has no morals and will spout whatever claptrap the highest bidder wants him to???

A very long article that says absolutely nothing

And also posted in a pathetic lefty rag, I wouldn’t mop up dog piss with.

Back on topic, which isn’t Farage.

[Mr K]

Very poor on sports GB news and it's weather forecasts are terrible.... In fact they aren't that good on news.

Good on shouty people though. They seem angry for some reason. Still searching for the sunlit uplands I should think...

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by Mick

And also posted in a pathetic lefty rag, I wouldn’t mop up dog piss with.

Back on topic, which isn’t Farage.

Welcome back!

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Mick

And also posted in a pathetic lefty rag, I wouldn’t mop up dog piss with.

Back on topic, which isn’t Farage.

[1andrew1]

GB News in breach after Mark Steyn Covid broadcast

According to the regulator, the programme, broadcast on April 21, 2022, incorrectly claimed that official UKHSA data provided definitive evidence of a causal link between receiving a third Covid-19 vaccine and higher infection, hospitalisation and death rates.

Ofcom said the content was “materially misleading” because the way the data was presented to viewers during the programme did not take account of the significant differences in age or health of people in the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups studied.

In a statement, Ofcom said that while broadcasters are free to transmit programmes which may be considered controversial and challenging, the obligation to ensure audiences are not materially misled remained.

A separate investigation remains open on an episode of the Mark Steyn programme featuring author and journalist Dr Naomi Wolf that received 411 complaints after its broadcast last October.

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2023...vid-broadcast/

[Mr K]

GB News lost over £30m in its first year on the air as the upstart broadcaster was racked by internal disagreements and an advertising boycott.

Accounts for GB News Limited for the year to May showed that the company made a £30.7m loss on revenues of £3.6m.

The figures show the channel, set up by broadcasting veteran Andrew Neil, facing a challenge to reach profitability as it seeks to compete with the BBC and Sky News and fend off a challenge from Rupert Murdoch’s TalkTV.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...ear-broadcast/

Very careless of them. Bigotry isn't profitable thankfully.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Mr K

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business...ear-broadcast/

Very careless of them. Bigotry isn't profitable thankfully.

It's a bit like the press used to be - a rich man's play thing.

Murdoch to his credit focuses on the bottom line.