On this newly merged World News and UK news channel, I wonder how much attention will be paid to devolution across the UK? During WN & NC simulcasts currently, anything to do with the UK Govt is the 'British' government. This morning during the 10-11am simulcast hour, at the end of the hour, Chris Rogers was interviewing the General Secretary of the Association of School & College leaders, interviewing him on the upcoming pay award for teachers, which only applies to England. Yet no mention was made of this.
Instead Chris referred to the "British" education system, when no such education system exists. Scotland has long had a completely separate education system, with completely separate qualifications to the rest of the UK. Education has long been devolved to Wales & NI. The devolved governments of all four UK nations will be taking their own separate decisions on teachers pay. Any decisions taken by the new Education Secretary appointed by Boris Johnson this week will only apply to England.
Apart from it being just lazy to ignore this on a UK-wide news channel, it's simply factually incorrect when talking about education to refer to it as "British", World News simulcast or not. It's been 23 years now, it's astonishing that there are still journalists at the BBC that cannot get devolution right.
Instead Chris referred to the "British" education system, when no such education system exists. Scotland has long had a completely separate education system, with completely separate qualifications to the rest of the UK. Education has long been devolved to Wales & NI. The devolved governments of all four UK nations will be taking their own separate decisions on teachers pay. Any decisions taken by the new Education Secretary appointed by Boris Johnson this week will only apply to England.
Apart from it being just lazy to ignore this on a UK-wide news channel, it's simply factually incorrect when talking about education to refer to it as "British", World News simulcast or not. It's been 23 years now, it's astonishing that there are still journalists at the BBC that cannot get devolution right.