Mailwatch(ed) Forum

To say nothing of the fact that it isn’t “innocent till proved guilty”, it’s “presumed innocent until proved guilty”.

Steven Barratt, GB News' go to lawyer (except when they want actual lawyering done, one suspects).

Not only does he miss out that the suggested grounds for the DPP intervening are fairly limited, he also makes Starmer responsible for prosecutions when he wasn't in the role (that's the majority of the time).

Big Dan isn't happy with Barratt.

Which of these lawyers do you think GB News are more likely to ask professional advice from?

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You sure Barrett isn’t a barista rather than a barrister, given his thin understanding of how our legal system works.

Barrett might not be the only person who thinks the DPP is like the DA in the movies in charge of the prosecution. Or the shady procureur if its a French cop drama.

The DA is responsible for cases prosecuted by someone else in the movies Barrett watches.

I saw the Secret Barrister describe Barrett as a hack who routinely ventures outside his area of expertise to pronounce on anything he likes, always along political lines and almost always wrong.

This guy was an actual barrister in the case Barrett wrongly attributed to the CPS.

Most barristers/solicitors I've met wouldn't venture any sort of opinion outside their sphere of expertise even privately.

That's kind of why Barrett is on speed dial.

I'm not a great fan of Jolyon Maugham for the same reason, though obviously he's a done some excellent work that outweighs his negatives. Like Barrett, he is a blocker.

It's all so predictable - push GBeebies to sack him then set up another grift.

Do people doing the international anti-vax beat really need GB News?

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 12:52 pm Do people doing the international anti-vax beat really need GB News?

It's a means to an end. If he's on there his clips are all over the socials and saying he's been sacked is good publicity.

I was sort of agreeing with you. Being sacked and taking his fans to youtube could be very good for him.

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 2:08 pm I was sort of agreeing with you. Being sacked and taking his fans to youtube could be very good for him.

It would be a fascinating exercise, especially for those of us who wish commercial misfortune on channel and presenter.

How many are "His" fans

What proportion of those who enjoyed Coast, or his stint at the top of National Trust Scotland have followed him down the rabbit hole?
How many of "his" fans are types who treat GB news like radio - always on, where Oliver might be just another talking head - one with a vaguely familiar face.

Impact on GB News

Wheel out another "character".
Turning Point / Tufton Street must have tens of these on standby.
Maybe GB news will experiment with an AI cartoon, or a rightwing Furry - eliminating need to deal with unreliable personalities.

YouTube

I can't see many of the 60+ retired Brexiteer cohort making a novel leap to YouTube.
Those who are already there likely enjoy a closed system of Shapiro / Jones / GBeebies clips / Peterson / Tate.

I used to love his history programmes, and had no idea he was disappearing down the conspiracy rabbit hole.

It occurs to me that he's perhaps the last GBN presenter who isn't part of the right wing of the Tories/RefUK gang, being more of an absolute libertarian and not having (AFAICS) any of the racist or "anti-,woke" agenda.

In that respect, he's the token gesture toward the channel's once stated mission of giving airtime to all the unheard voices, rather than blaring out one voice in particular.

I think by now he's probably shed most of the Coast fans.

GB News' audience are old Brexiters, but they, as a group, were sat at home worried to death about Covid, not pulling together bits of Toby Young crap,. I would think Oliver has a somewhat different viewership, Twitter, if accounts are genuine, hints to me that the youtube audience would be substantial.

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 4:59 pm I think by now he's probably shed most of the Coast fans.

GB News' audience are old Brexiters, but they, as a group, were sat at home worried to death about Covid, not pulling together bits of Toby Young crap,. I would think Oliver has a somewhat different viewership, Twitter, if accounts are genuine, hints to me that the youtube audience would be substantial.

I'll go out on a limb and suggest Mumsnet's a handy barometer for the rise and fall of characters like Oliver.
But I wouldn't' recommend spending much of your valuable time lurking there.

I won't! Though I did like it when they got stuck into John Hemming.

Michael Portillo describes what the country would be like if Michael Portillo cinched the top job. And the wokes are to blame.