Andrew Jones MP: leave the BBC alone

18th February 2020

 

The BBC is a unique institution. It has been a permanent presence throughout my life, and for me and most others, it is a fundamental part of what constitutes Great Britain.

It is much more popular than the Conservative Party, Boris Johnson or Dominic Cummings, but it is under attack by them.

Anonymous briefings

A "senior source" - presumably Dominic Cummings - told the Sunday Times that Johnson wants to "whack the BBC". This would include replacing the licence fee with a subscription model, forcing the BBC to sell off most of its radio stations, reducing the number of TV channels, and scaling back its website.

John Whittingdale has oozed back into government. That shows there is some substance to the off-the-record briefings, because he only has one function - to undermine the BBC.

Hypocrisy cubed

The "source" - presumably Dominic Cummings - had harsh words for BBC stars who make their profile at public expense then gain further financial rewards elsewhere. "They're basically making their names on the taxpayer and cashing in."

If this is a problem, it might come as news to former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. They gained their profiles in a public role; both are now charging hundreds of thousands of pounds to make speeches, and Cameron has written a book. If getting famous on a public platform is a problem for Adrian Chiles, it is certainly also a problem for Cameron and May. The source's argument is hypocrisy cubed.

Bias and impartiality

I speculate that Cummings and Johnson think the BBC isn't biased enough towards them. There are BBC correspondents who regurgitate each and every off-the-record musing of "no. 10 sources", but apparently that isn't enough.

Most British newspapers push pro-Tory propanda down readers' throats, and Cummings and Johnson seem to see this as a right, a natural state of affairs, rather than an aberration or outrageous luck for them. Their sense of entitlement is so deep and broad, they appear to think every segment of the media should be cheerleading them, not engaging in fact-based analysis.

The first meeting of the new Cabinet is evidence of this mindset. Johnson repeated his creepy "people's Government" propaganda, before launching into a 'call-and-response' of his dishonest election claims. He looked happy, surrounded by sycophants sucking up to him and parroting his lies. It was embarrassing.

Cummings & Johnson - damage limitation

The only real discernible aim of this government is to entrench the Tory party's privileges and hold on power. It doesn't have a moral purpose. Cummings and Johnson are not interested in the good of the country.

The only question now is how much damage this oaf of a Prime Minister will inflict on Great Britain before we see the back of him.

Whatever else he does, he must leave the BBC alone. It will still be a valued British institution when Johnson is just a distant memory. Some Conservative MPs have been principled enough to stand up for the BBC. Andrew Jones? I'm not holding my breath.

A genuine suggestion

I have a genuine suggestion, which is not about keeping my (non-existent) hold on power.

Local newspapers are struggling and the BBC is publicly funded. Why not make it easier for local papers to use some BBC content? BBC video reports could be easy to embed in local newspaper sites. Any images taken by BBC photographers could be available for use by local newspapers and websites. This would increase the extent to which the public get value from BBC resources, and give people a sense of ownership of what they pay for.