BBC Question Time Biased Against Lib Dems

I am a regular watcher of the BBC's Question Time programme (usually on around 10.35pm on Thursdays). Episodes vary a great deal. Some are rather boring, with politicians trotting out the same old platitudes. Others create real debate among panel and audience, making for an exciting hour's viewing.

I have a big grumble with the programme this year. They have often failed to include a Lib Dem representative on the panel. Indeed in three of the last four episodes there has not been a Lib Dem representation. The excellent Lynne Featherstone last week was the only Lib Dem to appear on the programme in the last month.

The week before QT was in Northern Ireland. No Lib Dem. Before that Coventry, in the week after Tony Bliar appeared before the Iraq War Inquiry. Given the Lib Dem role in opposing UK intervention in Iraq and challenging the basis on which the country went to war you might have expected a Lib Dem to appear, Oh no, we got Tony's mate Lord Falconer, his former colleague Clare Short MP (now Independent) and George Galloway (representing the George Galloway party as uusal) plus a Tory and right wing commentator. No Lib Dem.

This week the programme is in Wales. Liberal Democrats previously had a share in government in Wales. Liberal Democrats now have more MPs than the Conservatives or Plaid Cymru in Wales. One of the Cardiff MPs is a Lib Dem and Lib Dems run Cardiff Council.

So who do the BBC have on the panel. Labour, Conservative, Plaid, a media bod (Janet Street Porter) and UKIP! The Euro hating types (funny how their dislike of Europe doesn't extend to their willingness to take the money that the EU provides for their MEPs!) have a single MEP in Wales. How can the BBC include this minority party and not have a Lib Dem representative on the panel.

I have complained directly to the BBC about the bias against the Lib Dems on the Question Time panel.