[Former Member 237]

Absolutely not - it was just the usual grandstanding and announcing policy away from the scrutiny of parliament.   The BBC does it's duty by digesting it to report on within the bulletin - and indeed gad already done its public service duty by leaking the plans beforehand.

While slightly unusual, any policy change would presumably have to be legislated for via the said parliament, so it is really not possible to have "policy away from the scrutiny of parliament".

[bilky asko]

While slightly unusual, any policy change would presumably have to be legislated for via the said parliament, so it is really not possible to have "policy away from the scrutiny of parliament".

I think you misread Brekkie's post.

[Brekkie]

There needs to be caution too about when Rishi Sunak is acting as Prime Minister and when he is acting as the Conservative Leader heading into the next election. The boundaries aren't always clear but I guess the BBC especially needs to be more cautious than usual leading up to an election - and technically we're now in the conference period as Parliament went into recess yesterday (even though the Labour and Tory conferences aren't until October).

Talking of which what do the BBC tend to do conference wise now - is it pretty much just the Leaders speeches, or is Politics Live broadcasting from them daily?

[UTVLifer]

Politics Live and Newsnight usually broadcast from the conferences, the last few years sharing the same smaller version of the Millbank desk iirc.

[DTV]

While slightly unusual, any policy change would presumably have to be legislated for via the said parliament, so it is really not possible to have "policy away from the scrutiny of parliament".

Not to get too into the constitutional weeds of it, but not really the case on either these days. Ministers have a accrued a lot of secondary legislative powers, particularly in the last few years, so there's a fair bit of policy that can be changed without parliamentary approval. Also, in terms of scrutiny, the British parliament is so relatively weak that legislative scrutiny is fairly minimal and non-substantive.

In terms of statements to Parliament, the expectation is that Parliament is informed of policy first. However, whether Sunak has breached the rule as outlined in Section Nine of the Ministerial Code depends on how you interpret "when Parliament is in session". Some might argue that the Commons being in recess (as it currently is) means that Parliament is not in session, however, from a technical perspective, a parliamentary session begins with the State Opening of Parliament and ends when it is prorogued - Parliament is currently in session, the Commons is just not sitting (though the Lords is).

[Stuart]

I don’t understand why bbc news came from Plymouth but it was nicely shot though as expected from a bbc network news programme.

One of the Producers gave a short explanation on yesterday's Spotlight saying how they want to come from different locations around the UK to highlight specific issues.  I guess this is also a continuation of the policy of not wanting to appear too London-centric.

They based themselves at the Uni's Maritime Studies Department and did some pieces about pollution in sea water and damage to marine life.  Plymouth is as good a place as any to also discuss problems about the cost of living crisis and difficulties in the hospitality industry because of inflation. Good opportunity for plenty of vox pops with the locals.

[Former Member 237]

Not to get too into the constitutional weeds of it, but not really the case on either these days. Ministers have a accrued a lot of secondary legislative powers, particularly in the last few years, so there's a fair bit of policy that can be changed without parliamentary approval. Also, in terms of scrutiny, the British parliament is so relatively weak that legislative scrutiny is fairly minimal and non-substantive.

In terms of statements to Parliament, the expectation is that Parliament is informed of policy first. However, whether Sunak has breached the rule as outlined in Section Nine of the Ministerial Code depends on how you interpret "when Parliament is in session". Some might argue that the Commons being in recess (as it currently is) means that Parliament is not in session, however, from a technical perspective, a parliamentary session begins with the State Opening of Parliament and ends when it is prorogued - Parliament is currently in session, the Commons is just not sitting (though the Lords is).

Well if there is to be no vote then I agree it should go via parliament. But that puts the bbc in an even stronger position to justify the broadcast, as ultimately it is the people who will be scrutinising.

[Steve in Pudsey]

I think Brekkie's point is that Parliament is in recess so there is no obligation to announce policy in the House rather than the media

[Brekkie]

Well if there is to be no vote then I agree it should go via parliament. But that puts the bbc in an even stronger position to justify the broadcast, as ultimately it is the people who will be scrutinising.

There is absolutely no tradition though of broadcasting every Prime ministers speech live on BBC1.   We're not America where they regularly rip up primetime because the President wants to say something.

Only when they're in the national interest would the BBC give them airtime on BBC1.  Ultimately broadcasting that speech yesterday live would have made no significant impact on anybodies immediate lives.

[Humphrey Hacker]

There is absolutely no tradition though of broadcasting every Prime ministers speech live on BBC1.   We're not America where they regularly rip up primetime because the President wants to say something.

Only when they're in the national interest would the BBC give them airtime on BBC1.  Ultimately broadcasting that speech yesterday live would have made no significant impact on anybodies immediate lives.

Absolutely correct. That's what the news channels are for.