{"id":1318591,"date":"2023-11-08T18:40:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:40:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=56606"},"modified":"2023-11-08T18:40:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T18:40:06","slug":"from-the-archives-we-need-to-talk-about-what-happened-on-bbc-newsnight-last-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/11\/08\/from-the-archives-we-need-to-talk-about-what-happened-on-bbc-newsnight-last-night\/","title":{"rendered":"From the archives: we need to talk about what happened on BBC Newsnight last night"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The\u00a0Canary<\/em> is looking back at some of its most-read content. Here, in February 2017 we took aim at Newsnight<\/em> over one of its guests. This article was read by over 500,000 people.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last night, BBC Newsnight<\/em> featured a segment on the NHS in which cancer specialist Dr Karol Sikora called the health service “the last bastion of communism”. While dissenting views on the NHS are fine, it is important to know the financial interests and background of the speaker. Sikora has financial interests in privatising the NHS, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n

The NHS attack on BBC Newsnight<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The NHS segment opens with Sikora introduced only by name. There is no mention of his experience, or interests. He launches into the standard argument for privatising the NHS. He claims that while it was a laudable idea, it has become a “religion”. That is now unsustainable and needs to be challenged.<\/p>\n

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And here's tonight's #viewsnight<\/a>…"The NHS is the last bastion of communism\u201d – cancer specialist Karol Sikora 2\/2 pic.twitter.com\/12KGNrOsMi<\/a><\/p>\n

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) February 22, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n