Is the BBC a news or a campaigning organisation?

The way the BBC have covered the Manchester "NO" vote on the Congestion Charge vote is a total disgrace. First they pushed the line that the vote was close right up until the vote, 50:50 was the line. Then the radio news report I heard the evening the result was declared concentrated almost completely on the views of the unsuccessful "NO" campaign and not a word with the winning side. Today I find the BBC page devoted to the Manchester Congestion Charge result and apart from reporting the result the "report" seems happiest concentrating on pointing out what the "NO" vote has cost Manchester:

"Greater Manchester votes NO! - The people of Greater Manchester have delivered a resounding ‘NO!’ to plans to introduce a congestion charge alongside £2.7 billion of investment in public transport . Find out what the region has rejected:

On the table was £1.5bn of government investment in public transport with the opportunity to borrow £1.2bn to be paid back through a weekday-only, peak time only congestion charging scheme.

This is what Greater Manchester has rejected along with the congestion charge:
Buses:

- An increase in bus services in Greater Manchester;
- Extra journeys at peak times into town centres;
- Earlier and later services;
- More weekend services;
- Additional circular routes to connect areas outside the city centre;
- Rapid Transit bus services to connect Leigh-Salford-Manchester; Bolton-Farnworth-Manchester; and Didsbury-Manchester
- New bus stations at Altrincham, Bolton and next to Salford Central with links to the city centre and Stockport;
- A new coach station next to Piccadilly Station.
Metrolink tram in Manchester


Metrolink:

- Expansion of the network with 41 new stops and 20 miles of additional track;
- 62 new trams;
- More seats on existing trams;
- Tram lines to East Didsbury, Manchester Airport, Oldham and Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, the Trafford Centre and a second city centre crossing;
- Smartcard ticketing machines to allow payment by credit/debit cards;
- An additional 1,400 park and ride spaces at Metrolink stops.


Rail services:

- More rail carriages with capacity for 3,000 extra passengers in the morning peak;
- Improvements at 31 minor stations;
- A new station at White City in Trafford
- Improved stations at Altrincham, Bolton, Hattersley, Rochdale, Salford Central, and Manchester city centre;
- Two new platforms at Lostock station;
- An additional 2,000 park and ride spaces at rail stations.


Yellow school buses:

- 180 new yellow school buses;
- Improved safety and security, with CCTV on the school buses.


Cycling:

- 125 miles of cycle routes;
- 2,500 extra cycle parking spaces at rail, bus and Metrolink stations;
- A bike hire scheme in Manchester and Stockport.


Other passenger improvements:

- Improved connections allowing people to change more easily between buses, trams and trains;
- More security staff on the tram network;
- Help with journey planning to make public transport easier to use;
- Electronic real-time display boards at tram, train and bus stops;
- CCTV, help points and better lighting at stops and stations;
- Improved Metroshuttle waiting facilities at Piccadilly;
- Improved links between Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North.


Park and ride:

- Metrolink park and ride sites at Ashton Moss, Ashton West, Sale Water Park, Shaw and Crompton and close to the Trafford Centre;
- Park and ride extended at Atherton, Stalybridge and Rochdale, Mills Hill, Horwich Parkway, Heald Green, Cheadle Hulme, Hazel Grove, Romiley and Birchwood;
- New park and ride sites serving the Leigh-Salford-Manchester Rapid Transit bus service at Leigh, Tyldesley Interchange, Tyldesley (Hough Lane), and the M61/ A580"

The BBC just don't understand views that differ from their own and they certainly don't respect referenda that give the "wrong result".