James O’Brien was so incensed by Boris Johnson’s defence of the indefensible actions by Dominic Cummings that, on Tuesday, his day off, he broadcast his thoughts on LBC. It is extremely powerful. You should listen to it.
* Simon Pike is Data Officer of Newbury and West Berkshire local party and a member of South Central Region executive.
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9 Comments
I don’t know who James O’Brien is but I am prepared to believe he is an important journalist. But is it the job of LDV just to regurgitate stuff from journalists? Have we nothing to say? No wonder we are at 6-9% in recent opinion polls.
Thanks Gary J for telling me who this man is and giving us the flavour of this London broadcasting outfit, apparently with ideas above its station. I write of course in ignorance never having been tempted by its DAB incarnation but I have read about it.
Me too, Geoff.
Am I correct in assuming that LBC is some sort of radio broadcaster situated at the less desirable wrong end of the UK ? I’ve never heard of Mr O’Brien before – and wish I hadn’t now.
I gather the previous owner is a billionaire who made his money out of gambling. He is now a tax exile dividing his time between Monte Carlo and Barbados. Obviously it goes without saying it must be a highly ethical organisation.
Some of you need to get out more. Mr O’Brien used occasionally to host ‘Newsnight’. I believe that LBC has allowed Nigel Farage considerable air time. Didn’t Nick Clegg have a regular slot at one time as well?
Sorry, David Raw; but I thought that O’Brien’s monologue was spot on. Particularly telling was his reference to the letter sent by the Headmaster of Eton to Johnson’s father back in 1982. The amazing thing for me is why Johnson Junior has been allowed to get away with it for so long.
The problem with LBC and James O’Brien in particular is that they are becoming increasingly ‘shock-jock’ like. You may like this because you agree with it, but listen to him live for any length of time and you will find him most illiberal. He likes to humiliate and belittle people, particularly if they are not as erudite as himself.
James O’Brien is for me an honest journalist who is true to his beliefs if only more of the media were honest. He has come from a privileged background and is not some more nic lefties but an honest broker of the truth. We are in the control of some very strange people who believe the best way to get through complicated issues is to reduce it to three words. Thank god for James O’Brien
@ John Marriott Yes, indeed, John I’d like to get out more. Unfortunately, given that I’m a ‘shielded’ person Nicola says I can’t, but I’ll make do with watching the gannets diving in the Forth.
As to Johnson, my opinion was well expressed by a letter in the Guardian today,
“Johnson says it’s time to move on. That’s been his mantra all his life. Trash a restaurant as a student – move on. Make a career of lying journalism – move on (but with plenty of money in the bank). Cheat on your wives – deny it, move on. Get your girlfriends pregnant – deny it, move on. Worst foreign secretary for a century – laugh, tell a joke in Latin, move on. Campaign for Brexit, which will destroy our economy, unity and position in the world – tell lots of lies, move on”.
‘Nuff said.
As a LibDem member, activist and ex councillor in both St Albans and Manchester, now shielded and housebound I wish to rebuff and inform some of the above comments. I too was a sceptical LBC listener. Then I heard James O’Brien on his reasons for resigning from the BBC. These were that he felt unable to pursue his search for the truth in journalism which is why he joined LBC with a daily slot 10am to 1pm. I am now, apart from my Guardian online a very committed supporter of James. If I am unable to listen live I record it and hear it that way.
I do not know who he votes for but it is refreshing to have in the media a conviction liberal (albeit a small ‘l’ liberal). We should acknowledge the work he does.