Minister U-turn over BBC charter timeline
MINISTERS look set to announce a climbdown on proposals to keep the BBC in financial check over the next decade as the row over the Corporation’s charter continues.
Ministers look set to announce a climbdown on proposals to keep the BBC in financial check
The Government has been locked in a tense battle with BBC bosses since the publication of a white paper on the future of the broadcaster in May.
Among the proposals put forward were plans for a break clause in the Royal Charter, which would give ministers the power to renegotiate the terms of the deal at any time.
The BBC, however, argued against the clause being used for charter renegotiations.
The BBC can breathe a sigh of relief as ministers signalled plans to water down the proposal
Now it appears BBC bosses can breath a sigh of relief as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport signalled plans to water down the proposals for a mid-term health check.
Lord Ashton of Hyde, who is a junior minister at the department, said that the proposed health check should be “merely that” – a health check and not a Charter Review.
Ministers have been accused of caving in to the BBC's demands
Former Sky director urges BBC licence fee to be scrapped
We are talking about £4billion of taxpayers’ money in licence fee income that is at stake
Last night Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen accused ministers of caving in to the BBC’s demands.
Mr Bridgen said: “We are talking about £4billion of taxpayers’ money in licence fee income that is at stake, and it is vitally important that the BBC is held to account in the way it spends that money, given its shameful track record of wasting millions.