Graham, let me try to explain, and I am not sure I will do the best job at it.
A Yank typically thinks about what he do on his own. In the USA, aside from unemployment compensation and two weeks holiday, one doesn't have the same set of entitlements that we have here in Europe. This was fine when the economy grew and jobs were plentiful. The USA was always the place where EU people could make their fortunes. My grandparents emigrated from Italy, and their kids did very well. In Europe they would not have had this possibility. (class warfare etc). Your UK forefathers emigrated because they didn't like the structure emposed by the king of his time. Others came because of famine (Irish) etc.
A European thinks (now I am using some examples from my university days when I spent two years in Rome) about securing a place with 5 weeks holiday, his pension etc. The social structure is different. Jobs more difficult to find. Those who stayed were more willing to accept the social circumstances as they were, which led to a greater development of social thinking. Remember the German Karl Marx, and his writings. He had significant influence in the USA as well as here, but most Yanks did not accept his thinking.
If one looks at the difference between different news sources, the BBC is pretty good about being neutral, but one of the local jokes as to what BBC stands for Bum Bumping Company. This gives one the impression that a particular group has a lot of influence in that particular media organization. No disrespect to them, they have to live just like those who are of a different persuasion. You also recognize on BBC that the news providers are often of an ethnic persuasion, and not British in origin.
What I think this translates into is a skewing of the news to their editorial content. I can't blame them, each news provider does the same.
If you have any further questions, let me know.
