Licence Fi back in focus

THE BBC is in a right mess.

While the Gary Lineker saga was grabbing headlines, another of its stars was being thrown under the Beeb’s impartiality bus. This time it was Fiona Bruce. She was hosting Question Time when it was pointed out the odious Stanley Johnson – Bozo’s dad – had beaten his wife.

Fair comment you would think as it is accepted as a fact.

But Bruce jumped in and said she had to clarify the breaking of his wife’s nose was a “one-off ”.

A one-off... well, that’s alright then.

Maybe if he’d murdered her it would be fine because it was just “the once”.

Give that man a knighthood immediately.

Stan’s reputation was defended by Bruce because of BBC impartiality rules.

But hers was damaged and she was promptly dropped as an ambassador for the charity Refuge.

Should she have been put in that situation in the first place?

What next? If Gary Glitter is called a vile paedo, does a BBC host have to also point out that he was also the singer of some hit songs? Impartiality is important and it is right that the BBC strives to give both sides to the story.

It’s certainly refreshing when so many news sources lean to the right or left.

But is it asking too much for its workers to stay on the fence when its chairman seems as impartial as Jamie Carragher commenting on a Liverpool match. Richard Sharp was appointed by a certain straight-as-an-arrow Old Etonian when he was PM.

I’m certain it had nothing to do with the fact Sharp had helped Bozo secure a loan for £800,000.

An investigation is taking place into Sharp’s appointment.

But whichever way you look at it, the whole corporation stinks to high heaven.

And whatever your views are, there can’t be many who would disagree with me when I say that being forced to pay the licence fee is a national disgrace.

Just abolish it.

Right now!