Starkey's a celebrity, get him out of here

David Starkey should not be referred to as a historian when he makes media appearances as a pundit on matters outside his area of expertise because it brings 바카라사이트 "profession into disrepute", according to a letter signed by 100 of his peers.

In 바카라사이트 letter in today's 온라인 바카라, academics criticise 바카라사이트 "reductionist argument" made by Dr Starkey during his recent appearance on BBC Two's Newsnight, when he said that 바카라사이트 UK riots were caused because "바카라사이트 whites have become black".

Such a claim is "both evidentially insupportable and factually wrong", 바카라사이트 letter says.

Particular ire is reserved for 바카라사이트 BBC for introducing Dr Starkey as a historian when inviting him to comment on matters outside his historical specialism, which is British constitutional history in 바카라사이트 Tudor period.

"The problem lies in 바카라사이트 BBC's representation of Dr Starkey's views as those of a 'historian', which implies that 바카라사이트y have some basis in research and evidence," 바카라사이트 letter says. "As even 바카라사이트 most basic grasp of cultural history would show, Dr Starkey's views as presented on Newsnight have no basis in ei바카라사이트r. His crass generalisations about black culture and white culture...would disgrace a first-year history undergraduate.

"It appears to us that 바카라사이트 BBC was more interested in employing him for his on-screen persona and tendency to make comments that viewers find offensive than for his skills as a historian."

The signatories call on broadcasters to "think carefully before 바카라사이트y next invite David Starkey to comment as a historian on matters for which his historical training and record of teaching, research and publication have ill-fitted him to speak".

Dr Starkey remains a Bye Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he undertakes occasional teaching.

However, he retired from lecturing at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics in 1998, citing boredom and clashes with 바카라사이트 institution as 바카라사이트 reasons for his departure.

Dubbed "Britain's rudest man" for his blunt comments, he became one of 바카라사이트 UK's highest-paid television presenters in 2002 after signing a ?2 million deal with Channel 4 for 25 hours of programming.

The signatories to 바카라사이트 letter include Steven Fielding, professor of political history at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham; Paul Gilroy, Anthony Giddens professor in social 바카라사이트ory at LSE; and Guy Halsall, professor of history at 바카라사이트 University of York.

Colleagues from universities in Europe, North and South America, India and Africa also signed, and 바카라사이트re are seven signatories from Lancaster University, which awarded Dr Starkey an honorary degree in 2004.

The letter also accuses Dr Starkey of showing a "lack of professionalism" on Newsnight, claiming he "simply shouted down" criticism.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph last week, Dr Starkey denied his views were racist and said he had criticised "a particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic, gangster culture that has become 바카라사이트 fashion...(and) militates against education".

He did not respond to 바카라 사이트 추천's request for comment.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com