Undecided? Yes or No? More champagne Sir?

BBC distances itself from the Bollinger at St. James' Park

Last Saturday (11th September) saw another round on the campaign trail. This time it was for the BBC, again in Newcastle. They have picked four people from across the North East who are currently 'undecided' as to how they are to vote in the forthcoming referendum on 4th November.

The format of the programme was to have the Yes and No campaigns present their arguments separately over a half hour period and snippets would be used on the run-in to the vote. The four 'undecideds' could then take on board the arguments and formulate their opinion.

The Baltic was chosen as the venue and I turned up to represent the North East No Campaign. They also had John Elliott of the newly formed conservative NESNO group.

Producers and crews arrived and there was banter about designation for the 'No' group being decided in a few days. John mentioned that they (NESNO) were all going to the event on Tuesday at the Copthorne. They had received a call the previous day from the Electoral Commission. He seemed confident, saying that he thought it was 60 / 40 in their favour. It surprised me because he said he hadn't even seen their application. It also surprised me as we had not received a call from the Electoral Commission. We had been told we were all getting the call Tuesday morning and only the designated organisation would be invited.

We went inside with the four and chatted in the lift on the way up.

As usual I played the Sunderland card and asked if anyone was from the Cinderella City. One worked in Sunderland, but all four confessed that they were Newcastle supporters. Amber, the youngest at 19, and the only female, announced that she came from the Wear Valley but supported the 'Toon.'

We went up to the fifth floor. Bare room. Bare walls, but a lovely view of the Tyne. The BBC's Richard and Damien explained the format...half an hours worth of chat and questions from the 'four' to the 'two.'
"Any coffee?"
"No, sorry. No water either."
We stood and waited as we got wired up.
Then Richard came in with six chairs that looked as if they had been stolen from the seven dwarfs.
"You're having a laugh," I said. "You expect us to perch our backsides on those tiny, uncomfortable things? We will look ridiculous, especially the guy who is 6ft 6 (2 metres in metric)."

So we did. Half an hour later it was in the bag.

We went outside and filmed the 'coming in' shots and then they had to dash to do the Yes Campaign's arguments.
"Thanks for the coffee Richard. What about the expenses for the helicopter getting here? I forgot to get a receipt."
Too late they were off.

John and I bought our own coffees in the restauraant and paid our own parking.

They had had to dash because they wanted to get set up before the match. The 'Yes' arguments were being filmed at St. James' Park with Sir John Hall and opera singer, Suzannah Clarke presenting the case. Location...in the Director's box of course.
Hopefully the four Newcastle United supporting ' undecideds' were a bit more comfortable listening to Sir John and Suzannah than they were to Herron and Elliott perched on kindergarten chairs.

I called Richard Moss, BBC'S Political Editor a few days later and asked if he enjoyed the corporate hospitality.
"We only had coffee and biscuits," he replied.
"Chocolate ones?"
"There may have been small chocolate chips present," he replied. "I know where you are going. We didn't stay for the match Herron."

At a speaking engagement on Thursday in Weardale, at Stanhope Methodist Chapel, I bumped into Amber, one of the four. Hats off to her as she is taking a very close interest in all the arguments.

"I hope you enjoyed the corporate hospitality, courtesy of Sir John. What type of champagne did you have?" I asked.

"The champagne was Bollinger and BBC left before dinner was served in the Director's box. I left the others to watch the match and share the champagne with Sir John," she replied honestly.

Newcastle beat Blackburn 3 - 0. I hope the four 'undecideds' are the same as the majority of the North East public who will make the decision based totally and purely on the FACTS.

It would be interesting to know if the BBC chose the venue or simply allowed the Yes campaign to come up with the location.

John and I were simply told to turn up at the Baltic at 10 am.