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Justin Webb says there is 'context' for racist violence on BBC Radio 4 Today

politicsJun 11, 2026543,927

On BBC Radio 4 Today, presenter Justin Webb said housing shortages, higher rents and competition for services provide 'context' for recent anti-migrant attacks in Northern Ireland, including incidents in Belfast. He said asylum seekers arriving from violent regions and local resentment over access to services are part of that context. The remarks raise concerns that national media framing could shift blame from perpetrators to migrants. That matters because a presenter at a national broadcaster helps shape public understanding and policy responses to targeted racist violence.

Peter Geoghegan
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

Justin Webb now stating as fact that in Northern Ireland - and across the U.K. - for years people ‘have been able to come here and get access to services’ that local people can’t Is there any evidence for this? Why is a presenter on the BBC stating this as fact?

103345d ago
Robert Saunders475

Another item began with a declaration (to paraphrase) that "we keep being told that violent crime is falling, but it doesn't feel like that". As if how people "feel" is just an independent variable to which the news has to respond, rather than something that inaccurate reporting helps to shape.

Beta Papa87

Because BBC editorial policy is right wing. Example- yesterday they led with a quote from the leader of a far right fringe party with 3% support.

Dr Julie Doughty46

surprisingly, R4 this week had a programme (More or Less) that debunked a report by a 'right leaning' thinktank about employment rates for young people, as 'nonsense'. Falsely claimed a rate of 27:1 (!) for non UK born:UK born. BBC needs more of that sort of reporting.

antimogi.bsky.social46

Justin Webb, a right wing bigot who identifies as an impartial journalist.

Helen41

Because Justin Webb is a liar, and holds pretty extreme far right views. He also claimed - to a BBC guest - that trans suicide rates were exaggerated. His source was Transgender Trend.

Kate24

Justin Webb is a fascist and its high time people started to recognise that. The man is an odious anti trans campaigner.

David24

No it’s not fact it’s a perception. As I live in Belfast I hear this perception from both staff and customers alike.

Fionna O’Leary21

Because it is Justin Webb

Rob Miller12

Webb is a fascist or at least a fascist enabler. He can't wait to be appointed head of propaganda by Farage or Lowe. Massive transphobe too.

cancelled-by-elon.bsky.social12

Because the BBC is a tool of class power. Manned at the top almost entirely by privately educated and overpaid tossers who'll go which ever way the low-tax, low-regulations wind is blowing.

❄️ endofthenight99 ❄️🏳️‍🌈11

And we collectively pay the BBC for this kind of biased reporting of facts

PJ11

That’s why we are where we are, it’s driven narratives by a complicit right media with right wing journalists for right wing owners. They stay quiet when it’s a white perpetrator or white domestic abuser, or white kiddy fiddler 🤬

Dave9

This is why I have pretty much stopped using the BBC as a news channel. There's a layer of dead wood there that was installed during the tory years and it needs to be turfed out.

Dr Jennifer Jones8

I'm old enough to remember when journalists and broadcasters understood that language matters. Refusing to say that arsonist/far-right terrorists torched those houses is criminally bad reporting. We cannot let them normalise violence like this – that way US-style madness lies.

fionnuala4000.bsky.social8

The British commentariat class are bringing far-right conspiracist talking points into mainstream discussion.

Michael Cleary7

Because he’s a right wing goon and has been for at least a decade

Jenn de Jeune6

Justin has been a self-righteous opinionated idiot for quite some time, he has been virulently anti Trans for years & never knowingly let an opportunity pass to platform his anti Trans opinions on R4 Today. No reason to believe he would behave any differently for anything else.

Chris Hutchings #ChoirsForClimate5

The only credible example of this would be English classes! And that's because local people don't need them! (Insert obvious cheap joke hre)

Cora Peeta M 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇦🇶🇺🇳5

Any exact quotes we can feed into the pointless complaint process without having to listen to him actually talking on catchup?

Pete Fraser5

It was a wholly disgraceful segment. I’ve never made a complaint to the BBC til today.

Phil Jones' body double5

"They are on a permanent holiday living in luxurious hotel accommodation we can't afford FOR FREE" Oh, you might want to read this if you haven't already. bsky.app/profile/anoo...

Vivienne4

It just isn’t true. If they’re lucky they get the same access to services.

RW4

This same propaganda is used here in the States, with the same repetition from the media. Maga believes it is fact that immigrants get free healthcare and other benefits, which is not true at all.

Ben Sowton4

Remember the days of John Humphries and Brian Redhead? Fondly. Now we have 2 right wing propagandists. It’s shameful

Pete Marchetto3

I used to like Justin Webb. He seemed one of the fairest of reporters. I don't know if he's changed, I've changed, or circumstances have changed, but it's troubling to read things like this.

Vin Totton3

been saying for some time that BBC is full of reporters - 'he said, she said' and not journalists. Peter you need to apply!

Todd Kendall3

Justin Webb is one of the reasons Today is unlistenable. Before he was posted to the US he seemed a genuinely even-handed BBC type. Something seems to have happened to him.

robod99.bsky.social3

Didn't you know local councils reserve a stock of luxury mansions for migrants which is why your granny can't get a flat. There's also a secret NHS just for migrants, no problem getting appointments there. Repetition > Facts.

Nick O’D3

The Today Programme has gone down and down and down. Opinion presented as fact. Hearsay presented as fact. Bollocks like this “accessing services that local people can’t “ being presented as fact. It’s just not serious anymore. Who are they trying to emulate? LBC?

Cordelia de Chair3

I hear it often from people at bus stops, people serving me in Co-op. Are they getting the same memo on Facebook?

Jack Liu3

Justin Webb is a right wing provocateur and the sooner this is understood the better.

all-a-mort.bsky.social3

The BBC is now just GB News wearing an expensive suit.

Whatever it is, I didn't do it.2

They're now pandering to the likes of Bari Weiss, and her puppeteer and thirty four time felon. Lay down with dogs and all that.

Nicki Stephens2

🧵 As a former LA employee working in the Homeless Prevention Service, I would say that temporary housing has to be offered to anyone who is seeking asylum ( I use the term housing loosely). The accommodation is generally sub- standard. I should add that in my long and varied experience within

Alan Pennie 2

Probably be a good idea to turn The BBC off for a while.

Elinor Elliot2

Webb is an abysmal journalist. Lazy, reactionary views that he's inexplicably allowed to leak into his interviews.

🦋Tristra🦋2

Because lying gets views and there are no consequences if you are lying about a group most people hate

Tea Junkie
@teajunkie.bsky.social

Elon Musk is an antisemite. Elon Musk is a White supremacist. Elon Musk wants the UK to be destroyed by a civil war. Elon Musk distributes of sexualized images of kids. Elon Musk is very rich, so none of the above matters. #R4Today

64044d ago
Womble1958
@wimblewomble1958.bsky.social

Why is #r4today promoting Elon Musk as some sort of saviour of society when in fact he’s probably the most dangerously negative influence on world politics and global security in existence….? 🤷🏻‍♂️🙄😒

51844d ago
Graeme Macdonald
@gmacdonald.bsky.social

It is staggering, STAGGERING that one can saunter wistfully and starry-eyed through a discussion of Musk’s achievements without framing it through his extreme politics. That should set the tone for every subsequent remark about his achievements. Not just an engineer. A racist engineer. #r4today

21144d ago
DoctorDee 🇺🇦 Слава Україні17

He's never been an engineer. The thing he had most hands on was the Cyber Truck. He's a tech-savvy capitalist who employs engineers.

JustJane7

I missed the Musk smoke-blowing item on #r4today but am astonished to learn they made no ref to his politics !! He's practically an enemy of this state ..

SoloSojourner7

Elon Musk is not an engineer and there’s no documented evidence that he personally performed engineering duties like drafting schematics, running CAD models, or conducting stress tests at Tesla or SpaceX. He’s just an ordinary racist.

drbarbarajane.bsky.social6

Does he actually have any achievements other than piggy backing off those that do? 🤷‍♀️

Quijote14

There are NO achievements. The man is scientifically illiterate! Just because he can bs, like all conmen, and mastered the sci lingo doesn't mean he understands shit! In fact, real scientists came away speechless and appalled at his stupidity after meeting him.

Debs Kaye2

Yet they NEVER talked about this during the election and they don't talk about them now either! Just ANOTHER RICH GUY the MSM PROTECTS! He's ALSO in the Epstein files!

Linda Noel2

Not an engineer. He himself couldn't engineer his way out of a wet paper bag with a scalpel. What he is Is a world class Barnum and Bailey style grifter who caught a ride into the Epstein Class, and knows where the dirt is hidden. And now he owns your government (not just the US...).

Alina est une Русинка❌️👑2

As someone with three degrees from the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences at my university, I cannot stress this enough: Elon Musk is NOT an engineer.