It’s been reported today that Labour MP Keith Vaz, who’s chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, has called for MPs to debate allegations of bullying and racist remarks allegedly made in this series of Big Brother.

Mr Vaz’s action was prompted following the latest hoohar in which Shievonne apparently accused Deana of “playing the race card” to get sympathy from her fellow housemates.

In addition, he urged TV watchdog Ofcom to “swiftly investigate” whether Channel 5 broke broadcasting rules by airing heated exchanges between housemates, and for broadcasting what some have deemed to be offensive words and/or actions.

For instance, everyone of course knows that viewers have complained about Conor’s rant over Deana, so we don’t need to go there again. They’ve also complained that Caroline called Adam “a ridiculous gorilla” and days later, said of him, “Look at him, like Martin Luther King, preaching to his people…”

Viewers complained that during an edition of Bit on the Side, former housemate Victor Ebuwa called the housemates “retards” and others complained when John McCririck, while also appearing on BOTS, claimed “half of Britain” couldn’t understand Conor because he’s Irish.

Other complaints include some viewers belief that Big Brother housemate Adam “physically abused” Arron Lowe when he threw a bowl of gloop over him, and others say Big Brother “misled” Adam into believing his Diary Room chat about housemates – in a Q&A session – was in secret, but it was actually being relayed back to some of his fellow housemates.

What I would like to know is this; does the Home Affairs Select Committee consider it a valid use of taxpayers’ money – which pays their ridiculously inflated salaries – to spend time debating the actions of group of people on a TV show when unemployment is rife, poverty is rife, crime is rife and there are more homeless people on our streets than ever before?

Are you seriously suggesting, Mr Vaz, that public funds are going to have been well spent if you and your committee discuss the complaints made by what amounts to less than 1% of the total of Big Brother viewers?

It pains me to criticise Mr Vaz because I am a staunch supporter of Labour, but the fact is, this is just plain ridiculous.

What the government might be better off spending their time “debating” – heaven forefend they might actually do something constructive, but hey, at least they’ll talk about doing something constructive – would be addressing racially motivated hate CRIMES that are committed on our streets every day, rather than concentrating on a TV show where, in actuality, no crime whatsoever has been committed.

Maybe the Home Affairs Committee might also like to address at some point – y’know, in your own time, no rush, have your BB debate first – how come children keep slipping through the net and ending up dead at the hands of abusive parents.

But honestly, go ahead and debate Victor’s use of the word “retards” first…

Opinions welcome in the comment box below.