All in the emphasis

We are very close to Gordon Brown calling an election, assuming the great 'feartie' actually plucks up the courage to do so. So the BBC's spin on Labour's partial climbdown on Social Care provision is not that surprising. THe BBC's headline piece accentuates the positive and associates negative words with the Conservative's position. The headline 'Long-awaited plan for social care levy due' sets the scene, it would seem that we are all tired of waiting for this decision and now the wise and beneficent Labour Gordon are almost ready to satisfy us. Here's an extract from the 'news report:

'A compulsory levy would be introduced to help pay for social care for adults in England, under plans to be unveiled by ministers in a white paper later.

They will call for a new commission to look at when and how the fee should be applied, and how much it should be.

It is widely agreed the current means-tested system needs reform because of the ageing population.

A compulsory charge is opposed by the Conservatives, who called one proposal for a levy on estates a death tax.'

You have to admire the BBC's clever wording, well you would if they were not meant to be 'impartial'.

Oddly The Telegraph do manage to point out that:

'Death tax to pay for elderly care is scrapped - Plans for a new National Care Service providing free support for the elderly have been abandoned by the Government.'

Well you pays your money and you takes your choice. Except you don't, The Telegraph news website is free whereas we all pay for the BBC via the TV Licence and they are required to be impartial.


UPDATE: Take a listen to Radio 4's Today programme for the most bizarre of interviews where Andy Burnham is questioned but cannot answer even simple questions.