BBC's "redness"

[mei]

Hi,

I have some trouble in understanding the underlined sentences. Could anyone do me a favor?

By the end of 1934, changes were underway to turn BBC News into an independent department, a move designed, in part, to further encourage public confidence in its corporate ethic of neutrality. The separation of News from the Talks Department was linked, in part, to charges of 'bias' being made against the latter department. If newspaper commentators framed the new division as the BBC's 'Answer to Tory Suspicions of Radicalism', within the corporation 'it was seen as a result of a sustained campaign by the right-wing press against alleged BBC "redness"'.

Thanks a lot.

Mei

 

[Red5]

BBC "redness" here refers to their alleged political bias.

In the UK, the Labour Party (left-wing) uses red as its party colour, and the Conservative (or Tory Party, who are right-wing) uses blue.

You may also have heard members of the communist party (who are an extreme left-wing party) being called "Reds".

As an aside, the current Mayor of London (UK), Ken Livingstone, was nicknamed "Red Ken" due to his far-left views on many subjects.

Don't ask me why Red and Blue were chosen to represent political parties at opposite ends of the spectrum, I've no idea!

I hope this helps,

 

[mei]

Dear Host:

Thank you very much. Your information is quite helpful.

Mei

 

[Red5]

It's a pleasure! :wink: