What do you think of the stories we have covered? Do you have anything to say about the programme or the issues of the day? You can read your February views from this page.
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General comments
Education white paper
Monckton debate
Poultry register
Styal prison
BitTorrent
Ken Livingstone's suspension
George Clooney interview
Civil servants
Kent robbery
Richard Thompson
Haiti
David Irving
Finland's nuclear reactor
UK theme re-recording
Bird flu
Synod decision
Special needs schooling
Abu Ghraib pictures
'Glorifying' terrorism
The e-mails published reflect the balance of opinion received.
GENERAL COMMENTS
After spending a stressful day at work, it's so good to check out the preview of that evening's Newsnight. I just love the "jokes fit for an 11 year old". Thanks for lightening my day.
Sheila Hamilton, Addingham
I think us lot wallowing in the backwaters received the wrong edition of Newsnight on Friday night [24 February]. We were subjected to your new "Newsnight London" programme which seems to focus the majority of its time talking about the issues of London, the Mayor of London, the impact on London, the effect of the Olympics in London, the international view of London, any impact on business investment in London. What a fine, broad-minded programme!
James, Not in London
Am very much impressed with the way you cover issues and I wish all media houses worldwide were covering issues the way you do. I am a Malawian, and since I started receiving your newsletters I always feel like reading each and every sentence you write. Please keep it up. However may you PLEASE try to do more stories from this part of Africa - there are a lot of issues taking place.
Tendayi Chabvunguma, Mzuzu
Why, oh why, does BBC America not air Newsnight?! It's criminal. I need my Paxman fix!
Sacha Sedriks, New York City
Just thought I'd write in to quickly commend you on a fantastic show last Monday [20 February]. Three very interesting reports on bird flu, the denial of the holocaust in Austria, and the power plant in Finland. Brilliant and interesting analysis worth the license fee on its own. More of the same please!
Mark Perry, London
"I don't get much time to catch up on current affairs - Newsnight is great entertainment and very informative"
Being 21, a dad, a part-time student and full time employee, my hours are long and my life is hectic. I don't get much time to catch up on current affairs, so when baby Steph is in bed, Newsnight is great entertainment and very informative. The relaxed but professional conduct of all Newsnight reporters is the perfect way to inform people on such important issues. I would like to add that the Gordaq cracks me up - a bit silly, but congratulations to whoever made that up; extremely funny. Unfortunately, I can't say may partner holds the same views - some of your hard hitting reports give her the impression that humanity will never prevail - and as a result it gives her nightmares.
David Barden, Dagenham
"I may not always watch Newsnight but I do always read your e-mails"
Watching tonight's edition of Newsnight [14 February] my wife and I found it terribly difficult to concentrate on the pertinent issues of the day due to your presenter's casual outfit. Punched paisley! Really. While we are used to government ministers such as Patricia Hewitt in ill advised garb, it is most disconcerting to see standards of professionalism slipping so much. You'd never catch Jeremy Paxman wearing anything but his best for the BBC.
Mr A Vandalay, Lincoln
I just love your programme, matey!
Maureen Ramsay, London
I should like to add my congratulations to the Newsnight team for a job well done. Democracy cannot be better served than with a free press whether on air or in print. Your efforts to expose the lies and half truths of our representatives in the mother of parliaments is essential. It is not hard to imagine the problems that would ensue in our society if politicians were not exposed - it's bad enough already. I am old enough to remember when it was possible to be proud to be English - now I am beginning to question this assumption. Finally, thank you BBC for the facility of the programme online. Compared to anything else that I watch either in the US or in Europe there is nothing to touch it.
John V Ball, Lisbon
Jeremy must be devastated to be criticized in the Radio Times by the towering intellect of Armando Iannucci. Of course, it may be another of his alleged jokes.
Chris Smith, Taunton
EDUCATION WHITE PAPER [28 February]
I have just watched and tried very hard to listen to your item on tonight's Newsnight about the White Paper on Education. However, I found it impossible to concentrate on the important issues being discussed because of all those revolting images of sausages, minced meat and blue rubber gloves! No, I am not an extreme vegetarian! I cannot see however how those irrelevant and unnecessary visual images could possibly add to or clarify the serious debate about our education system. This paper marks a, possibly very significant, shift in our education system; we need to listen to the arguments and reflect on the implications of the paper without unpleasant and distracting visual images. I am finding the use of visual imagery is increasingly intruding on many news programmes and current issues discussions.
Irene Knott, Nottingham
I have just switched off your discussion of the education bill in disgust - this is a bill which does not refer to Northern Ireland or Scotland and yet the differences between the systems in the various parts of the UK were neither mentioned nor used in your discussion. Why should I pay a licence fee to listen to a discussion which takes no account of the educational system where my children go to school? Please repay that proportion of my licence fee which funded this entirely anglocentric programme (despite the accent of the presenter). If you are the BBC you are the BBC - all of the time! Otherwise, let's have a Scottish Newsnight for the whole of the programme. Thanks for the early night!
Cairns Craig, Aberdeen
MONCKTON DEBATE [28 February]
"I am an ex-prisoner... there should be more places and information for people like me who have paid their dues to society"
POULTRY REGISTER [28 February]
50 chickens? What is the government's line on counting chickens before they hatch? Personally, I'm more interested in eggs of the chocolate kind - no danger of bird flu there.
If chickens can be vaccinated against bird flu, why can't humans?
William Few, London
STYAL PRISON [27 February]
Although it is sad to see the results of these prisoners inflicting serious injury, the have been put there because they themselves have broken the law, and a court has seen fit to sentence them to prison. Secondly, during the subsequent interview with Baroness Scotland, there was no mention at all of the victims. It is all well and good giving them the best facilities, and looking after them, with this multi-disciplinary organisation called the prison service, but I feel more should be done for the victim of their crime. BITTORRENT [24 February]
"I was quite appalled at the link drawn between BitTorrent and terrorism"
"Please leave this kind of reporting to the tabloids - I expect a much higher standard from the BBC"
"Apart from getting the technology wrong, the report insinuated that by using BitTorrent one actually aids terrorists and paedophiles"
The report on BitTorrent was terribly populist and one-eyed. If Newsnight covered technology like you do politics then at least you would spend more than two minutes researching the facts and invite more than one point of view. Apart from getting the technology wrong, the report insinuated that by using BitTorrent one actually aids terrorists and paedophiles - apparently by clogging up the system so much that Echelon and other automatic surveillance systems can't cope. Fabulous logic - by downloading music you put the security of the nation at risk. I would have expected a much higher standard of journalism from the Newsnight team.
Jakob Widerberg, London
"Where was the counterpoint emphasising our right to privacy?"
Your item on BitTorrent helping terrorists could only have come from a hysterical film/record industry press release. We are told that encrypting data for potentially legitimate purposes is wrong because we'll distract the intelligence services from terrorist communications. Quick, to Parliament where we can legislate against teenage file sharers. Absurd! Where was the counterpoint emphasising our right to privacy? If MI5 agents are huddled over computers staring at every encrypted bit flying over the internet then I despair of British "intelligence".
Tom Chance, Reading
Read Newsnight's response to your comments
KEN LIVINGSTONE'S SUSPENSION [24 February]
"The reporter was making a serious, obnoxious nuisance of himself and Ken reacted - anyone would have done"
Disgraceful and fundamentally undemocratic to censure Ken L. Why can we criticise any ethnic group except Jews? The reporter was making a serious, obnoxious nuisance of himself and Ken reacted. Anyone would have done.
Peter Ashford, Herat / Afghanistan
"I find it strange that Ken can be relieved of his job for 'inappropriate behaviour', yet Tony Blair can 'tough out' taking the country to war"
"Whether Mr Livingstone's remarks were illegal or not, as Mayor of London he should set an example purely in terms of respecting people's ethnicity"
I find it strange that Ken can be relieved of his job for "inappropriate behaviour", yet Tony Blair can "tough out" taking the country to war.
Ian Downing, Surbiton
Good. Four weeks without KL's pronouncements and self-publicism! Pity it is not for longer.
June Gibson, London
Whether Mr Livingstone's remarks were illegal or not, as Mayor of London he should set an example purely in terms of respecting people's ethnicity. After campaigning for ethnic minorities, you would think that Mr Livingstone would regard his comments as insulting and would see the sense in apologising. If any other elected member of parliament had made these comments, Downing Street would have insisted on an apology. If an apology from an elected minister was not forthcoming, I am sure the consequences would be far more damaging than four weeks suspension. So why is Mr Livingstone so utterly untouchable?
Sean Robertson, Sheffield
An unbelievable and unjustified penalty for calling someone names which certainly could not be described as anti-Semitic. I have been called worse in my time and have called other people worse. The world has gone mad!
Barbara Tucker, London
GEORGE CLOONEY INTERVIEW [Review - 24 February]
"I loved Kirsty Wark's interview with George Clooney, especially the close-ups!"
I loved Kirsty Wark's interview with George Clooney, especially the close-ups! I know we should care more about the politics behind his films, and all credit to him for tackling tricky subjects but yes, I drooled over him. What a great interview, covering the serious stuff but also what he has on his iPod and which film he watches every time it comes on. Maybe next time he'll make a film in the Isle of Man and I'll get to meet him. Going to sleep now to dream of him. Mmmmmmm, thanks Newsnight.
Daphne Caine, Isle of Man
I was delighted to see all the women presenters and journalists on Newsnight on Friday. I was also very impressed with Kirsty's interview with George Clooney (where she managed not to drool all over him). What a shame that Martha Kearney couldn't resist the oh-so-predictable "and I got Steven Norris". Sexism is horrible and depressing whatever the gender of the presenter, and for me ruined an otherwise excellent programme.
Seonaid Cooke, Edinburgh
Martha Kearney should be ashamed of her closing comment. For a powerful, well-paid media host to make such a disparaging comparison between her guest, Steve Norris, and Kirsty's guest, George Clooney, was incredibly rude. Steve Norris was generous and apolitical in his comments and deserved better. That sort of sexist remark, which would never be tolerated from a man about women, spoilt what was otherwise an excellent programme.
Sue Organ, Chichester
CIVIL SERVANTS [24 February]
I work for a non-departmental public body (NDPB) - the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). I am not a faceless pen-pusher; I am a national expert in education; and someone who works for a fairly risible salary. I do my best to ensure that educational values inform national policies, rather than the values of powerful commercial organisations. I am not a faceless bureaucrat. The QCA's workforce is being slashed from 630 to 400 - we are not increasing our staffing, we are not all time-serving parasites. Morale is at an all-time low, and the important remits which we are charged with fulfilling are in danger of not being met. To me, a better way of saving public money would be to get rid of a few overpaid, cliché ridden, inaccurate and lazy journalists.
Anon, London
The Newsnight feature tonight on the increasing numbers of civil servants showed cut-out figures of white men in bowler hats. We civil servants are not all white, nor male, and we do not wear bowler hats. Please, Newsnight, try to be a bit more original and up to date with your graphics.
Lorri Dawson, London
Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders responds:
Inevitably, our study of the impact of the Gershon review on the civil service could not do justice to the record of each individual department - let alone the agencies within them. I have no doubt that many parts of the civil service are being greatly affected. Indeed, we mentioned one, the Department of Work and Pensions, which has had very dramatic job cuts and is suffering morale and service quality problems similar to those the correspondent describes at the QCA. The point of the piece was, rather, to contrast the very large claimed job losses in the civil service over the past two years with the much smaller (though still substantial) reduction in the number of people actually working at government departments. Given the impact of even the cuts that have occurred - at the DWP, the QCA and elsewhere - it is no wonder that the government would wish to find ways to finesse the numbers.
The caricature of the faceless, bowler-hatted bureaucrat is hopelessly out-dated and certainly unrepresentative of the gender and racial profile of the modern civil service. We thought it was so out-dated that we could safely use the cardboard figures in a fit of post-modern Newsnight whimsey. (We also thought they were rather cute.) Sorry.
KENT ROBBERY [23 February 2006]
I was appalled at the Kent robbery coverage that involved an interview with a bank robber, and appalled in particular by the interviewer's shocking failure to challenge or even effectively demur from the robber's despicable support for the violent perpetrators of the Kent crime. The BBC was brought into disrepute. Apology imperative.
Peter Bishop, Brighton
It was a mistake to allow a former bank robber to comment on the recent Kent robbery. For him to wish them luck was unforgivable.
Martyn Jones, Pontypridd
Newsnight editor Peter Barron responds:
I am sorry that some viewers found the inclusion on Newsnight of Terry Smith, a former armed robber, objectionable. We invited Mr Smith onto the programme because we felt he offered genuine insights into the modus operandi of the Tonbridge robbers. Mr Smith's comments were balanced by those of Roy Ramm, a former head of organised crime at Scotland Yard. Mr Ramm made it clear in the course of the discussion that "we mustn't lose sight of the brutality of this crime". When at the end of the discussion Mr Smith said that from his point of view he hoped that some of the robbers get away with it, Gavin Esler challenged that by saying "Not everyone will share that point of view".
"The contributor added nothing except his own offensive remarks - don't talk about balance, balance isn't the issue"
RICHARD THOMPSON [23 February 2006]
"There's a huge number of people still going to folk clubs and appreciating live acoustic music"
HAITI [21 February 2006]
"Is Haiti really the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? - assuming the term to mean anything, it must mean everything west of Greenwich"
Is Haiti really the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? Assuming the term to mean anything, it must mean everything west of Greenwich and east of 180 degrees. As such it takes in most of Britain - including London but not Cambridge. As far as I can tell from data available online, Burkina Faso is significantly poorer that Haiti and is - mainly - in the Western Hemisphere. 15N 0E being approximately the triple point between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. So while Haiti may well be the poorest nation in the Americas - and as such worthy of your report - it is not the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.
Marcus Streets, Cambridge
DAVID IRVING [20 February 2006]
Paxman was strangely non-combative in his interview with David Irving's lawyer. Rather than playing devil's advocate as he usually does so well, he asked the least probing questions he could think of. The lawyer had no choice but to agree with everything Paxman said. What happened to the challenging journalist we know and admire?
Tom, Reading
"Putting a man in prison for his beliefs is wrong even if he seems to be as mad as a hatter"
With regard to the freedom of speech issue, it is frequently cited by those who would wish to deny us its reality "that one should not shout FIRE in a crowded theatre". Such would be an act of criminal recklessness unconnected to the freedom of speech issue. Freedom of speech is something different entirely.
David Edwards, Ely, Cambs
"It's a very sad day for Austria and Europe"
I think Irving is completely mad for thinking that the holocaust didn't happen. There are graves of soldiers throughout the UK and Europe of men and women who died for our freedom. They gave us freedom, also freedom of thought and expression. Putting a man in prison for his beliefs is wrong even if he seems to be as mad as a hatter. Just because a person disagrees with the holocaust it doesn't necessarily mean he is anti-Semitic. The European Union seems to be losing its meaning when the laws are no better than fascism. I felt that Europe was supposed to be liberal, obviously I was wrong.
H Djemal, Jyväskylä Finland
FINLAND'S NUCLEAR REACTOR [20 February 2006]
A moan about dismal BBC coverage of anything vaguely to do with science or engineering. The report about nuclear power in Finland suggested the reactor being built was big. Great. How big? 400 yards or 1300MW? If around 1300MW it was probably based on the Framatome design built already at Chooz on the Franco-Belgian border and operating since around 1998. Also broadly similar to Sizewell B - a 4 steam generator PWR. If not, then something different and therefore important, as the Finns have usually built Boiling Water Reactors rather than PWRs. Couldn't someone have said? It does matter. The cost is also highly important. If the Framatome consortium are building a (single?) reactor for £2 billion at today's money, somebody could have found out that a 1200MW at Sizewell cost £3 billion at 1995 prices. In view of the policy issues being discussed, the money being splashed about is highly important, particularly if it is funny money and a loss leader for a growing nuclear market in Europe, as Greenpeace have asserted.
UK THEME RE-RECORDING [20 February 2006]
"I usually wake up to this theme, then go back to sleep and reawaken later to the dulcet tones of the Today presenters"
BIRD FLU [20 February 2006]
"What a pointlessly aggressive interview Jeremy Paxman conducted with Ben Bradshaw"
"Are we about to see the entire chicken population annihilated in order to avoid another potential risk of disease?"
This bird flu thing - are we about to see the entire chicken population annihilated in order to avoid another potential risk of disease?
Tony Malcolm, London
SYNOD DECISION [16 February 2006]
"Any time Israel is criticised for breach of human rights and war crimes the stock excuse is to roll out the bogus weapon of anti-Semitism"
Some Jews - including me - think that anti-Semitism is fuelled by Israeli occupation of Arab land, demolition of Arab houses, uprooting of olive trees and the Wall. So some of us would like to make it clear we agree with the Synod's decision to consider the ethics of Caterpillar.
Hilda Meers, Whitehills
"I think the Synod's position is perfectly justifiable and is in no way an attack on Judaism or Jews"
I watched with great interest the presentation and discussion on the General Synod of the Church of England supporting a motion to sell its shares in Caterpillar. As a secular Jew with most of my relatives in Israel, I think the Church of England has made a legitimate stand against the abominable rightwing government of Israel and its continued unacceptable treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories. Further, it has always seemed to me crucial to distinguish between Jewish issues and Israeli government policies and actions, as anti-Semites are always blurring this crucial distinction. I think the Synod's position is perfectly justifiable and is in no way an attack on Judaism or Jews.
David Freedman, London
"We can be for Israel's right to exist within secure borders without being anti-Arab, and against Israel's betrayal of its founding ideals without being anti-Semitic"
As a British aid worker I have witnessed at first hand the destructive impact of land clearances and house demolitions by the Israelis in Palestine. We can be for Israel's right to exist within secure borders without being anti-Arab, and against Israel's betrayal of its founding ideals without being anti-Semitic.
Geoffrey Salkeld, Genis, France
"Bulldozers and anti-Semetic semantics - why would you take such nonsense seriously enough to give it air time?"
The church? Bulldozers? I doubt the church knows what it is investing in - secular or non-secular - from moment to moment. Bulldozers and anti-Semitic semantics? Why would you take such nonsense seriously enough to give it air time?
Ceilidah, Minnis Bay
SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLING [16 February 2006]
Your item about education for children with Special Needs was very good, especially the highlighting of the true costs of "including" a child with special needs into mainstream school. However, I was very disappointed that none of the children featured had a learning disability as these children are the hardest to include and the least able to represent themselves. I think it would be interesting to your viewers to see the reality of caring for, parenting and providing for a child with learning disability, especially in the context of education.
I have just read with interest your article on special needs education. As a parent of a special needs daughter whose chosen school is 14 miles away, can I highlight that one of the main issues with getting a child to their chosen school is transport. Quite often parents exhausted by the education battle then have to fight for transport. There is no duty for LEAs to provide transport for special needs and in many cases by simply refusing transport, access to the best school is denied. Unlike many special needs children our daughter is lucky she is going to the best school for her needs and has transport.
Jeanine Blamires, Keighley
ABU GHRAIB PICTURES [15 February 2006]
"I am concerned that you saw fit to give so much time to the pictures of prisoners in Iraq being abused"
I am concerned that you saw fit to give so much time to the pictures of prisoners in Iraq being abused. Yes, it is bad that this has happened, but it is old news and we have had our fill of the disgusting pictures you showed. Also it will not help our soldiers out there to inflame the situation as you have done. Leave such disgraceful things to the mindless gutter press!
E M Stevenson, Derby
'GLORIFYING' TERRORISM
After careful consideration, I am coming to the conclusion Tony Blair is right to insist on the word "glorification" in the new terror bill. The word "glorification" has no legal meaning in our law, therefore it cannot be cited as grounds for prosecution. However, if the word "glorification" was included in the new terror bill it would then need to be afforded a meaning in law. Once glorification has a legal meaning then it can be used across all our laws; even those concerning attaining British citizenship. Immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, etc, will be subject to all laws that will include the misuse of "glorification", and thus provide legal boundaries to which afore-mentioned people must abide, regardless of their religion, faith, culture.
Alvim Bennett, Colchester
I am pleased that the offence of glorifying terrorism has finally been recognised. This is especially true as I consider the US/British invasion of Iraq to be terrorism. It would be impossible to otherwise define the pre-invasion bombing designated "shock and horror" or the use of weapons of mass destruction such as spent uranium cartridges. I will be pleased therefore that Mr Blair will no longer be able to justify the war without fear of being arrested for glorifying terrorism.
Peter Lees, Radstock
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