Peter Oborne’s Dispatches programme was on last night, preceded by the Guardian article and comment piece and Opendemocracy pamphlet (pdf) which were released to coincide with the programme. I have been avidly following the inevitable online wranglings which ensued.
The CST’s response is certainly one of the best, particularly this gem of a detail:
There is another, very simple, example of how the programme makers appear to have decided on their theory and conclusions before accumulating any facts. The Guardian opinion piece states:
For instance, Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) – once described by the famous Conservative politician and historian as “the largest organisation in western Europe dedicated to the cause of the people of Israel” – claims that 80% of all Tory MPs are members.
The Guardian news article states:
At least half of the shadow cabinet are members of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), according to a Dispatches programme being screened on Channel 4.