Movement on the BBC

Regular blog-readers will know of my work to democratise the BBC.

Yesterday I asked the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt MP, if he would consider giving license-fee payers a vote over the BBC budget and programming.

His reply was very encouraging:


Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): Following the disappointing decision by the BBC to screen "The Accused", denigrating our British Army, and the subsequent criticism by the head of the armed forces, does the Secretary of State agree that it is time to democratise the licence fee and give licence fee payers a real say over our programming?

Mr Hunt: I understand my hon. Friend's concerns about the issue in question. He will agree with me that in a free country, it is important that the Government should not dictate to our national broadcaster what it says or broadcasts. However, he is right to say that we need to look at governance of the BBC. There is cross-party agreement that the BBC Trust set up by the previous Government has not worked in the way that was intended, and as we come up to the renewal of the BBC charter, we will be looking closely at ways to improve the democratic accountability of the BBC.


by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com