BBC ECU Put BBC Scotland in their Place

[Inigo 32,526]

None of your business how they got hold of it.

Whit?

[Inigo 32,526]

Like the general tone and the bit in bold, but they're talking pish about Spence.

[54andcounting 627]

Ive read that twice over and im still confused.

Never mind all the window dressing this is the important part " The status of Rangers FC may be a matter of debate among rival fans but the facts have been established by a range of relevant bodies, as pointed out by many complainants"

[Inigo 32,526]

It was sent to me and other complainers about Spence!!!

No need to shout, my man. I asked the question just as you were posting what I wanted to know.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Ive read that twice over and im still confused.

The beebs editorial conplaints departement kicking bbc catholics and spences arse over their lies against us

[Bertent 2,081]

still wont make a difference to the tax payer funded bigots

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

Is this kosher?

[RockwellGers 14,711]

Never mind all the window dressing this is the important part " The status of Rangers FC may be a matter of debate among rival fans but the facts have been established by a range of relevant bodies, as pointed out by many complainants"

I think this strengthens the precedent that any attempts by the unwashed to undermine the very existence of Rangers will be doomed. DOOMED.

Not that it'll stop them trying, they have little else going on in their lives

[54andcounting 627]

No need to shout, my man. I asked the question just as you were posting what I wanted to know.

I was SHOUTING about spence!!!

[Inigo 32,526]

I was SHOUTING about spence!!!

Ah, OK, I'll join you. Spence is a wee bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dummiesoot 16,005]

just click on the picture and it gets bigger

let's hope they tossers at the bbc take heed now.

Yeah worked that bit out it is blurry on my phone

[dummiesoot 16,005]

"The status of Rangers FC may be a matter of debate among rival fans but the facts have been etablished by a range of relevant bodies."

Thank you.

[KingBillyLives 27]

Help you out bears only so much can be posted on twitter!

Received today final BBC ECU conclusions don't budge on Spence but say " the facts have been established by a range of relevant bodies" off to Trust on Spence! RFC 1872

British Broadcasting Corporation White City, 201 Wood Lane, London, W12 7TS Telephone: 020 8743 8000 Email: ecu@bbc.co.uk

Editorial Complaints Unit

Sportsound, BBC Radio Scotland, 4 September 2013

The Editorial Complaints Unit issued its provisional finding on the complaints received about the above programme and invited further comments from complainants. We have now considered all the responses which were received and reached a final conclusion.

Many complainants made the point that it was not clear from the language used by Mr Spence that his comments referred to the company which owned Rangers FC (The Rangers International Football Club plc). They said his mention of “the old club” and “the club that died” could only be taken to refer to the football team, regardless of the broader context of the discussion or the specific point that he was making (the wisdom or otherwise of appointing to the board individuals who had presided over the old company which went into liquidation).

The ECU has acknowledged that there was a degree of ambiguity in the words used by Mr Spence and we agreed with BBC Scotland that his comments “could have been better phrased”. However, we remain of the view that his comments have to be considered in the context of the discussion that was taking place which was entirely about the composition of the board of The Rangers International Football Club plc and the running of The Rangers International Football Club plc.

The BBC’s Editorial Guidelines refer to “due accuracy” which means the accuracy “must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any appropriate signposting that may influence that expectation”. Bearing in mind the widespread coverage over many months of the change in ownership of Rangers FC, it was unlikely that listeners to this programme would be unaware of the changes which had taken place. Indeed, it is reasonable to assume that regular listeners, and football fans in general, would be familiar with the story. We remain of the view that the likelihood of listeners being misled by the use of the word “club” in this context rather than the word “company” was extremely limited and would not have left the audience with an inaccurate or materially misleading impression. The status of Rangers FC may be a matter of debate among rival fans but the facts have been established by a range of relevant bodies, as pointed out by many complainants. We believe it follows that since the possibility that listeners would have misunderstood what Mr Spence said was limited, the scope for offence was equally limited.

Complainants who responded to the ECU’s provisional finding also made the point that Mr Spence must have known that the language he used would be regarded by Rangers supporters as provocative and evidence of bias. Many complainants pointed out that rival football supporters use such language in an attempt to “wind up” or antagonise Rangers fans and argued that Mr Spence would be aware of this. Complainants also referred to previous comments which have been made by Mr Spence (and other BBC Scotland members of staff)



about Rangers FC and argued that this was evidence of “a history of bias”. Many complainants said based on his previous public comments on the circumstances of Rangers FC, it was clear that Mr Spence was expressing a personal, biased view.

The ECU considered this point but took the view that whatever listeners might assume Mr Spence intended by his comments, the question we had to consider was how one might reasonably understand what he said on this occasion, in the context in which he said it. Our view was that it was reasonable to draw attention to the question of appointing new board members who had been involved in the demise of the old company. We noted that Mr Spence picked up on a previous comment from a contributor, Ewan Murray, that former chairman, John McClelland, could join the board.

Ewan Murray: John McClelland has been there before and has been chairman. My only issue with this would be – John McClelland was chairman in a regime that obviously went horribly wrong in the end. Now, and I say the same to an extent about Paul Murray, you know, they’ve been involved at Rangers at the past. What Rangers need to do, somehow, at some time, is move forward and again to me this doesn’t seem that this is happening. You know, the counterpoint is that they’ve had fresh names in the past and that’s gone horribly wrong but I would like to see them go, you know, fresh ideas, fresh people, instead of what this is going back to.

In conclusion, we have considered the various representations made by complainants but do not believe there are grounds to change our provisional finding. This document should therefore be considered in conjunction with our provisional finding as the ECU’s final decision not to uphold the complaints that have been made.

We appreciate that complainants may wish to pursue this matter further by asking the Editorial Standards Committee of the BBC Trust to review our decision. The Trust represents the third and final stage of the BBC’s complaints process.1 Correspondence for the Committee should be addressed to Christina Roski, Complaints Advisor, BBC Trust Unit, 180 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5QZ or you can send an email to trust.editorial@bbc.co.uk. The Trust normally expects to receive an appeal within four weeks of the date of this letter. It expects complainants to limit the details of their appeal to no more than one thousand words (although all previous correspondence in relation to the complaint will be forwarded to the Trust Unit as a matter of course).

1 http://www.bbc.co.uk...ts_and_appeals/



Well that puts BBC Scotland to bed!!!

Fucking quoting the bits that suit you and leaving out the rest. The whole thing is saying that you're complaining about bugger all and you're all cunts for misunderstanding what was intended.

[rangersfc77 170]

Whilst I am delighted they have acknowledged what was already known facts, it does not detract from the valid point Jim Spence has went unchecked for his trouble making and knowingly ill-informed and factually incorrect remarks

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,137]

So they've stated what we already knew but Spence gets away with offensive language and talking shite.

[bluenose1975 1,287]

Fucking quoting the bits that suit you and leaving out the rest. The whole thing is saying that you're complaining about bugger all and you're all cunts for misunderstanding what was intended.

another one outed lol, get yerself to fuck ya utter bawhum

[RockwellGers 14,711]

Fucking quoting the bits that suit you and leaving out the rest. The whole thing is saying that you're complaining about bugger all and you're all cunts for misunderstanding what was intended.

I disagree, they are saying that these facts have been established by a range of relevant bodies, and "as pointed out by many complainants" is simply referring to our acknowledgement of that.

If they had said "according to many complainants" you'd have a point

[Corky True Legend 2,682]

Nothing happened when I clicked on it so I tried stroking it. It got bigger!

[bluenose1975 1,287]

"but but but ye's are deid are ye's no? cos if ye's urnae deid how are we gonnae be a bigger team????"........ what a shower of weird obsessed bastards that mhob really are. everybody who has listened to them has came right back and slammed the door firmly on their new team pish...................Glasgow Rangers, hated but forever rated Number 1............

[peter ritchie 12]

Fucking quoting the bits that suit you and leaving out the rest. The whole thing is saying that you're complaining about bugger all and you're all cunts for misunderstanding what was intended.

Fuck up you fucking cabbage

[54andcounting 627]

Fucking quoting the bits that suit you and leaving out the rest. The whole thing is saying that you're complaining about bugger all and you're all cunts for misunderstanding what was intended.

Oh Dear! if you are trying to be a smart arse you failed! BBC Scotland and all complainers got the draft report to consider two weeks ago! they did not object to this paragraph therefore they accept it! but what do I know!!! I was just one of the original complainers to the Trust!

By the way admin! ban the tim! ffs!!!

[peter ritchie 12]

Oh Dear! if you are trying to be a smart arse you failed! BBC Scotland and all complainers get the draft report to consider two weeks ago! they did not object to this paragraph therefor they accept it! but what do I know!!! I was just one of the original complainers to the Trust!

Them beast from the east dont like them pesky facts,just ask them Celtic minded bigots at the Celtic boys club

[BluegeneBop 157]

Delighted with this, a bit of good news for a change.

I still think though,that the beeb have sidestepped the issue with Spence.

Happy to win the small battles,which will eventually give us the victory in this media war

[cumnockbear 2,446]

Still won't stop them having "new club" fly digs at us, but fuck them, just keep reporting them in our thousands, someone will lose their job sooner or later.

[54andcounting 627]

Delighted with this, a bit of good news for a change.

I still think though,that the beeb have sidestepped the issue with Spence.

Happy to win the small battles,which will eventually give us the victory in this media war

I am not finished! I am still going to the Trust about him (as I do not except the explanation) from them regarding his comments! the c**t meant it and I am determined to out him!!!