Culture secretary: I have no ambition to become the BBC fat controller
Culture secretary John Whittingdale has assured MPs he has “no wish to hobble the BBC”.
The government is due to publish a white paper setting out terms of the corporation’s next royal charter tomorrow.
Yesterday in parliament, MPs quizzed Whittingdale on what might be included in the white paper amid concerns that it could weaken the corporation.
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But Whittingdale told the House of Commons: “I have no wish to hobble the BBC.”
He also stated that he was “committed to the editorial independence of the BBC”.
MPs expressed concern over several changes speculated about in the media, including the government having more control of the corporation, cuts to different areas of the BBC and more programming being outsourced.
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Tom Brake MP asked Whittingdale: "Does the secretary of state recognise that the BBC is internationally renowned for its independence and its quality programmes that entertain, inform and challenge?
"Does he also understand that any attempts by the government to play the fat controller by, for instance, packing the board, interfering with programme scheduling or top-slicing the licence fee would risk inflicting severe damage on the BBC’s reputation?"
Whittingdale responded: "I have no ambition to become the fat controller."