Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, told the Observer that she was considering a series of reforms to insulate the BBC from political pressure, including ending the “revolving door” of political appointments to top jobs at the corporation and extending the renewal period charter. from 10 to 15 or 20 years to reduce pressure on BBC leaders to toe the government line. Labour’s move follows explosive claims last week by former BBC presenter Emily Maitlis that a Tory “agent” was “acting as an arbiter of the BBC’s impartiality” from his seat on the company’s board. Although she did not name him, Maitlis was referring to Theresa May’s former communications director, Robbie Gibb, who has since denied the allegations. With Truss, the foreign secretary, tipped to become the next prime minister, there are signs the Conservatives under her leadership will press ahead with sweeping changes to the BBC, including ending the license fee in its current form. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, an outspoken critic of the BBC and Channel 4, and a supporter of Truss, said the license fee would be frozen for two years and signaled its end altogether, tweeting that “this license fee announcement will it’s the last one.” Truss also questioned the BBC’s accuracy during her six-week Tory leadership campaign. Speaking to right-wing news channel GB News a week ago, he said he believed the BBC had failed to fact-check. But some of the BBC’s best-known former presenters last week accused the company of moving towards a Tory agenda. Even before Maitlis gave her lecture in Edinburgh, she and Jon Sopel, until recently the BBC’s North American editor and her new Global colleague, both complained to this newspaper about the BBC’s enslavement to “ balance’ in all reports and cowardly coverage of the impact. of Brexit. Veteran BBC radio presenter Roger Bolton, who has just been sacked from his job holding the company to account at Radio 4’s Feedback after 23 years, has also complained of bias. Speaking before his acrimonious departure from the program on Friday, Bolton said Maitlis was “absolutely right” to criticize the BBC’s coverage of Brexit. “The BBC is getting increasingly confused between their corporate responses and their editorial responses. And bosses are not as accountable as they should be,” Bolton told the Observer. Robbie Gibb was referred to as a “Tory operative on the BBC board”. He denies the allegation. Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images But those close to Gibb pushed back this weekend, arguing that impartiality in news coverage remains the real goal. “It’s no coincidence that the general manager, Tim Davie, has made this a top priority,” a source close to Gibb told the Observer. “It is a reflection of the fact that we know how dear this ideal is around the world. It’s something that can be achieved even at the most prominent level, with the appointment of Chris Mason as political editor, for example, and it’s something that the public expects.” Speaking on Radio 4 on Saturday morning, celebrity broadcaster David Dimbleby also attacked Maitlis, arguing on the Today program that her comments about Dominic Cummings’ “shocking” breach of the rules during lockdown should have been questions, no statements. “Maybe not everyone was shocked,” he said, citing Maitlis’ description of the public response to Cummings’ misdemeanor as “a fury, contempt and anguish.” “It was a battle. I think that was the mistake,” Dimbleby said. The Labor leadership is now keen to appear as an upholder of the BBC’s best traditions, while also being open to changes, including the exact form of the license fee. Powell emphasized the vital role the BBC plays in British life. His coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Queen’s platinum jubilee and women’s football at the Euros had shown him at his best. “But the constant attacks from the Tories are secretly tearing the BBC apart,” he said. “The BBC must change with the times, and must not be afraid of strong reporting and debate that reflects the views of the country. “In the midst of a cost of living crisis, our fast-growing, world-renowned British film and television industry will be vital to the growth of our economy. The BBC is critical to this unique ecosystem.” He added: “Under Labour, the BBC would be free from political interference and the future of the BBC as a universal, public service, public service broadcaster would be secure.”
