Stop the meddling, BBC boss tells MPs

THE BBC’s independence has been weakened by politicians who spent the past 20 years chipping away at the rules that once protected it, the corporation’s boss will say today.

In a thinly-veiled attack on the Government, tony Hall will say politicians have diminished the BBC by making it fund things that are not related to broadcasting.

He will also criticise them for backroom deals to settle the licence fee. Bosses agreed a deal with the Government this year for the BBC to raise the licence fee in return for taking on the cost of free licences for over-75s.

speaking to cardiff Business club, lord Hall will say: ‘When I was working in news in the Nineties, the independence of the BBC was protected by quiet customs and traditions.

‘When I returned as director-general, the foundations of the BBC’s independence had become weaker. traditions and informal arrangements which protected it had been eroded.

‘Politicians had not done this deliberately – it happened under all parties. First, the licence fee was spent on things that were not directly to

‘It has happened under all political parties’

do with broadcasting. On digital switchover. On rural broadband and local TV. then twice it was settled without a full process.’

the deal to make the BBC shoulder the £750million-a-year cost of licence fees for the over-75s was heavily criticised by labour politicians and former BBC bosses, who said it turned the corporation into a branch of the department for Work and Pensions. At the time, lord Hall said it would give the BBC ‘financial stability’. But today he will criticise the extra responsibilities foisted on the corporation and say the BBC should be allowed to expand.

He will call for a ‘dual-lock’ to ensure the BBC is protected from any major change unless it is backed by most MPs and peers across the political spectrum. He will also warn against proposals to renew the charter – the agreement that determines its scope and responsibilities – every five years, instead of the ten-year gap now.

In comments likely to anger critics who believe the BBC is already too powerful, lord Hall will say: ‘A five-year charter would effectively call our future into question at every election. We can still offer a better BBC for less. But not if... having cut our money, the charter also cuts our creative freedom to reinvent our services or our commercial freedom to make up the shortfall.