BBC ‘has duty to represent views of all of Britain’

Minister also casts doubt on licence fee

THE BBC must report local issues rather than reflect views of “metropolitan bubbles”, a Minister has warned as he cast doubt on the licence fee’s future.

Operational and editorial decisions are for the corporation but the Government believes it must represent all of Britain, John Whittingdale told the Commons.

The Culture Minister also expressed “considerable sympathy” with Tory calls to reform how the BBC is funded, but said a reliance on Freeview does not allow such change just yet.

But the way people watch television now means questions about the “sustainability” of the licence fee will be under consideration during the 2027 charter review process, the Minister added.

Opposition MPs criticised the Government for putting the cost of free TV licences for over75s on the BBC, which will become means-tested from next month.

Answering an urgent question in the Commons, Mr Whittingdale said: “As the national broadcaster, the BBC has a duty to represent all of the nation, both its youngest and oldest citizens, no matter where they live.

“I am aware that many people have expressed concerns about cuts to regional programming as well as the BBC’s recent announcement of staffing reductions.

“Let me be clear – both operational and editorial decisions are a matter for the BBC.

“It is an independent body and the Government rightly has no say in the day-to-day decisions it makes on programming, staffing

Culture Minister John Whittingdale. or the administration of the licence fee.

“But as I have said, including during a recent adjournment debate, the Government believes that the BBC must represent all of Britain.”

He added: “That means engaging and reporting on local issues across our diverse communities, not just reflecting the views of the metropolitan bubbles of London and Manchester.”

The Liberal Democrat culture spokeswoman Daisy Cooper, who secured the urgent question in Parliament, said: “The BBC licence fee exists to give the BBC protection from political interference. It shouldn’t be making decisions on welfare, that is the role of the Government.”

And Shadow Culture Minister Christian Matheson added: “Cuts to the BBC, as everyone in this chamber knows, are not merely about spending, but undermining the corporation’s independence.”

Addressing Tory calls to reform the licence fee, Mr Whittingdale also said: “We are not yet at a point where we could consider moving to a subscription service because a lot of people still rely on Freeview and it doesn’t allow it.

“But I think the way in which people consume television is changing so fast that it will increasingly lead to questions about the sustainability of the licence fee and that will certainly be something under consideration when we come to the next charter review.”

It must not just reflect the views of the metropolitan bubbles.