Plan to prune corporation attacked

SENIOR Tories have called threats to end the TV licence for a subscription service “cultural vandalism”.

They are urging a halt to the “vendetta” against the BBC after Number 10 said it may face a “massive pruning”.

BBC radio stations, except for Radio 4 and 5, TV channels and the website are at risk along with the corporation’s stars earning money from second jobs.

A source said Prime Minister Boris Johnson was “really strident” on the need for serious reform.

But ex-Deputy Prime

Minister

Damian Green, right, warned the Government faces a backlash. He said: “Destroying the BBC wasn’t in our manifesto and would be cultural vandalism. ‘Vote Tory and close Radio 2’. Really?”

Tory MP Huw Merriman said: “I’m not sure this vendetta against the BBC is going to end well. No mention of it in our manifesto. I won’t be supporting it.”

The Government is already consulting on plans to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee and abolishing it when the BBC’s charter is up for renewal in 2027. Shadow Culture Secretary Tracy Brabin said the consultation is a “pre-judged ruse” to go through the whole of the BBC, which is loved by 80% of the public.

Yesterday Transport Secretary Grant Shapps sought to downplay concerns, saying: “It is simply not the case that there is some preordained decision about the future funding of the BBC out there.”

Tory Damian Collins, a former chairman of the Culture Select Committee said: “No surprise that no one has put their name to this destructive idea.”

Vote Tory and close Radio 2. Really?

DAMIAN GREEN FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER