BBC Radio Five Live on "Common Purpose" tonight

Frank Freedom · Post by **Frank Freedom** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:23 pm

Jonathan Maitland examines the influence of the networking group
(registered charity!) Common Purpose
which has been described as a politically correct version of freemasonry

in brackets my addition

7-8pm tonight

channel 705 on freeview

Frank Freedom · Post by **Frank Freedom** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:15 pm

Going by the 30 second introduction this will probably not be a serious piece

Billed as:

Covering the Big Stories you need to know about

im all ears for the second half that should cover some aspects of CP

Post by **TonyGosling** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:11 pm

Amazing.
Sounds promising.
Did anyone catch this?

Guess what. It's not on the BBC I-Player.

Frank Freedom · Post by **Frank Freedom** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:30 pm

It was not that bad in the end considering they didn't start the topic till 19.42
18 minutes including the cricket scores and much CT alignment and humourous background music
Not much time to get too serious though the secrecy element was
generally agreed including the Chatham House rules and it's "charitable status" questioned

Anyone else catch?

QuitTheirClogs · Post by **QuitTheirClogs** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:04 pm

I was impressed by the UKIP guy (can’t remember his name). He described Common Purpose as Bilderberg for middle managers.

It was pretty much accepted that CP is a secretive networking organisation which is largely funded out of public money. The disputed issue was whether it is pushing an EU agenda or such like.

The “conspiracy theory” label was thrown about and they had a “conspiracy expert” on hand to reassure us that CP is nothing to be concerned about.

And the BBC presenters were like a bunch of giggling school children who have just discovered a rude word.

Post by **TonyGosling** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:28 pm

Sounds like a hatchet job than.
Now there's a suprise.

Anyway 20 minutes of it seems to be available as a podcast here. Weird that becase the programme was scheduled to be a hour long.

A secret society?
By Ruth Alexander
Jonathan Maitland show, BBC Radio 5 Live

Inspiring future leaders? Common Purpose seeks to encourage personal development and making new contacts

Its critics say it is a secret networking organisation at the heart of the establishment, with a hidden agenda and influence.

More than 20,000 people - identified as the next generation of leaders - have attended its courses, but if you are not one of them, you have probably never heard of it.

It is called Common Purpose and prominent supporters include BBC business editor Robert Peston, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Cressida Dick of the Metropolitan Police and numerous top public sector officials.

It's a not-for-profit organisation which organises training and networking events for high-fliers.

Connections

Its website says "Common Purpose gives leaders the inspiration, the knowledge and the connections they need to produce real change - in their workplaces and in their communities."

According to one Common Purpose "graduate" who spoke to the BBC, Common Purpose's activities seem innocent enough: delegates attend a week-long residential course, where the emphasis is on personal development and making new contacts.

She said delegates were encouraged to identify their strengths and weaknesses and were taken on outings to a mental hospital, a prison, a local tenants' association and the City.

But former naval officer Brian Gerrish, who leads a campaign against Common Purpose, says: "It's a secret society for careerists. The key point is that the networking is done out of sight of the general public.

Critics

"If you actually look at the documented evidence as to what Common Purpose is doing, they are clearly not just a training provider. They are operating a highly political agenda, which is to create new chosen leaders in society."

The conspiracy theorists think Common Purpose is trying take over the world. They believe it is shaping people to work to its hidden agenda of promoting a European super-state, forcing diversity on British society, and imposing political correctness.

Swapping business cards
It's who you know...
Common Purpose organisers do not deny trying to identify future leaders, but they say their agenda is merely to open up the potential for success to a more diverse range of people.

And the organisation's website says "we are always balanced and owe no historical or other allegiance to any other group."

People we have spoken to who have been on Common Purpose courses are frankly perplexed at the accusation that it is all about advancing a European super-state.

Helga Henry, an arts manager from Birmingham, has been on a course: "I'm sort of aware that there's some controversy and that there are people who believe Common Purpose is fuelled by a pro-EU agenda. But it certainly wasn't apparent in the course I was on."

Destined for the top?

But does she think she is part of an elite that will one day be future rulers of the world?

"That would be lovely, wouldn't it?" she laughs. "If all you had to do is to go on a course to do that, that would be great."

But there is a bigger question.

Should publically-funded institutions like the police, local authorities and the BBC pay money to a charity to host training courses which are essentially networking opportunities for staff?

Some of the courses cost as much as £5,750.

A Freedom of Information request by Conservative MP Philip Davies uncovered the fact that the Department for Work and Pensions had spent £238,000 sending its people on Common Purpose courses between 2002 and 2007.

Chatham House rules

And while there is no evidence that Common Purpose has anything to hide, it is not the most open organisation.

Its meetings are held under the Chatham House Rule, which means everything that is said in them is unattributable.

However Common Purpose trustee Andrew Cubie told 5 Live that many organisations choose to hold meetings in this way:

"It means that people are very frank. They talk about their failures more than their successes. You get a very good learning process.

"This is about learning, it is not about a networking or membership organisation."

But although anyone can apply to go on a Common Purpose course, attendees are mainly graduate professionals - and those who are not assessed as having future leader potential will not be accepted.

One critic claims to have uncovered a memo which dismissed the idea of having a particular individual on a local advisory group in Suffolk because he was "too Ipswich".

There is no credible reason to think Common Purpose is about to take over the world.

But as the organisation's aim is to identify and train the next generation of leaders, the charges of elitism seem difficult to refute.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7929210.stm

Post by **fish5133** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:05 pm

Maybe CP is planning to try and shed some of its secretive side in order to go public and to do this they will want some slow gentle publicity to get Joe Public familiar with the name.
Lest see if we now start to see more MSM coverage of CP.
The Freemasons did the same when they were beginning to be exposed. They suddenly open up some of their Lodges and got some websites running and i even think they had some ads in newspapers.

Frank Freedom · Post by **Frank Freedom** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:36 pm

fish5133 wrote:Maybe CP is planning to try and shed some of its secretive side in order to go public and to do this they will want some slow gentle publicity to get Joe Public familiar with the name.
Lest see if we now start to see more MSM coverage of CP.
The Freemasons did the same when they were beginning to be exposed. They suddenly open up some of their Lodges and got some websites running and i even think they had some ads in newspapers.

A very good point there fish.

The whole build up to the as advertised main topic (started at 7.40 I got distracted typing an email to Maitland)
was one of (as QuitTheirClogs alludes) derision by giggling schoolboys against alleged proposals by conspiracy theorists
This from the people who say "covering the big stories you should know about"

The "investigator" on CP was Adrian Golberg(mentions lizards)

The CP phone in chappy is Andrew Keley/Cubey(muffled)

The UKIP guy was Duanne Taylor (also muffled)

The Conspiracy "expert" was Robin Ramsey

Josieclosie · Post by **Josieclosie** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:42 pm

I think they are trying to get their retaliation in first and bear in mind a lot of BBC people are also CP graduates and I reckon they think that by dealing with this in a sort of semi jocular fashion, they will get away with people thinking it is a good thing.

It is not, it is thoroughly unpleasant and quasi fascist/nazi in nature.

Nick Cooper · Post by **Nick Cooper** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:07 am

Josieclosie wrote:I think they are trying to get their retaliation in first and bear in mind a lot of BBC people are also CP graduates

How many out of how many BBC employees?

and I reckon they think that by dealing with this in a sort of semi jocular fashion, they will get away with people thinking it is a good thing.

It is not, it is thoroughly unpleasant and quasi fascist/nazi in nature.

How particularly is it "quasi fascist/nazi in nature"?

Josieclosie · Post by **Josieclosie** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:03 pm

Who is to know how many BBC employees, Nick, they do not openly publish a membership list but certainly in the North some prominent BBC employees/Broadcasters are prominent members.

As for their quasi nazi/fascist actions.

Secret meetings.
Refusal to allow minutes to be taken/subjects discussed discussed outside - Chatham House rules.
Stated desire only to deal with 'like minded' individuals.
Working with other agencies to do 'down' anyone who opposes/disagrees with them.

I could go on.