Outrage over BBC probe
Campaigners demand ex-boss Hall quits funding inquiry role
CAMPAIGNERS for the abolition of the TV licence fee have attacked a decision to include former BBC boss Tony Hall in a Lords investigation into its future funding.
They say Lord Hall, who was director-general of the corporation until 2020, and pushed for an increase in the fee while regularly rejecting calls for a subscriptionstyle service, cannot play an impartial role in the inquiry.
Peers on the Communications and Digital Committee last week announced the investigation following Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries statement that the Government intended to abolish the fee after freezing it this year.
Now Rebecca Ryan, director of Defund the BBC, has demanded that Lord Hall removes himself from the proceedings.
In a letter to committee chairwoman Baroness Stowell, Ms Ryan, said: “It is beyond belief that the committee would allow Lord Hall to participate in this inquiry. Having the former director-general of the BBC on the committee means that the inquiry simply cannot be impartial.”
A recent poll for the Sunday Express revealed 63 per cent support scrapping the licence fee. Ms
Ryan added: “Lord Hall should recuse himself to ensure that the impartiality of the probe is assured.”
However, the committee looks set to reject the demand.
A House of Lords spokesman said: “Members of select committees come from a wide range of backgrounds and experience, and relevant interests are declared.”
They added: “In this case, the cross-party and non-partisan committee is conducting an inquiry with a completely open mind and is actively seeking the widest range of opinions to contribute to and inform its thinking.”