Succumbing to temptation

OK, my friend the Part Time Pilgrim has tempted me, and I have fallen.  I should be doing something else, but cannot resist the temptation to comment on the BBC’s reporting of the Scottish SSM decision, here and here.

For a piece of classic BBC objective reporting, it deserves a special honour.

Note, for example, in both cases, the wording:  become the first part of the UK to introduce gay marriage.  Clearly, that is simply a statement of fact, carrying no implication that the rest of the UK will or should follow suit.  Clearly.  No assumptions, still less overtones of approval, built into that one.

Read on: The announcement was made in the wake of a government consultation which produced a record 77,508 responses. But the BBC doesn’t mention what those responses said.  Could it be because they oppose the proposals, and that is not the approved line?

In the reactions piece, we find that the vast majority of comments quoted are pro the change - strangely not remotely reflecting the proportions of the views of Scots themselves when consulted (2:1 against).  No agenda there, then, is there?...

And as the Part Time Pilgrim added: 'I also note that "others" are in favour of changing the law, but only the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland are against.'

That strange subterranean vibration is Lord Reith spinning in his grave.