Overkill?

The BBC (gleefully?) reported that George Osborne has been accused of trying to encourage the wealthiest Russian to make financial contribution to the Tory Party.

Nothing wrong with this - it is out in the public domain.

But why did we have to hear it first from Nick Robinson in somewhat less than neutral terms, and then from Robert Peston, - yes the Business correspondent, accused recently of having contacts with the Government and obtaining information on a privileged basis?

Why was Peston wheeled out? It seemed to be only because he could give a character reference to Osborne's accuser, on his honesty and impartiality in particular. This is Peston's personal opinion, to which he is entitled, but it is another example of editorial objectives intruding into the reporting of news. It followed soon after a lamentable interview by Sarah Montague of a government spokesman on helping business through (the) recession. She did not probe at all aggressively and permitted him to a final statement with challengable assertions and criticisms of Tory proposals, which she followed with a demure "Thank you".

Osborne may have been a fool in consorting with Mandelson, - he is not in their league when it comes to smearing and media manipulation. He would surely have known that such a foreign donation, however small, would have been illegal, and even if he gave the slightest impression that was what he was about, then he should consider his position.