It was with mild pleasure that I read of the decision of Robin Ince to end his association with the Radio 4 programme, The Infinite Monkey Cage. I enjoy the show, but have never been entirely sure what Ince brings to it. He is not terribly funny, nor erudite, although what he lacks in those qualities he makes for in self-regard.

He is not terribly funny, nor erudite, although what he lacks in those qualities he makes for in self-regard

Why did he go? Apparently the BBC think he is too outspoken on various political issues, such as Gaza and trans rights. As you might imagine, Ince is wrong (and on the latter issue, anti-scientific) on both of these issues, and it seems he refused to be silenced. As he put it: ‘Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage – a victory for the transphobes and other bigots – I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction – they are real and so often unrepresented.’ A victory for me, then! And yet it is not, is it? Because Ince was right, possibly for the only time in his life, that a freelance science presenter should not have to take a vow of silence on issues upon which he feels deeply. Any more than should a football show presenter – or, to my mind (and I admit this is stretching the argument) – the presenter of the Today programme. But this is the bind the BBC has got itself in by continuing to pretend that it is politically neutral – an absurdity.

In truth, Ince is simply yet another one of the thousands of pampered, over-promoted, public school educated Corbynistas who festoon the place. If they were allowed to speak up a bit more, the bias would become stunningly clear. Anyway, on this business: Je suis Ince!

Oh – and while we’re on with the subject of the BBC, huge credit to Nick Robinson. It takes an awful lot to unite entirely the fissiparous, diverse and querulous tranche of Spectator readers who comment below an article. But Nick – you managed it. Enormous kudos.