Sunday, May 23, 2021
Will the Bashir scandal trigger a new assault on the independence of the BBC?
I suppose it was inevitable. The Tories have long sought to rein the BBC in and force the corporation to be more supportive of them, including imposing a more sympathetic chair who has restricted the twitter freedoms of its broadcasters and evens suggesting they employ more right-wing comedians, as if such a thing exists. Now, in the light of the scandal over how Martin Bashir obtained his interview with Princess Diana it looks as if they have the opening they've been looking for.
The Observer reports that Home Secretary, Priti Patel has said, giving the clearest indication yet that ministers are considering potentially sweeping changes to how it is run.
They say that in an interview with Sky’s Trevor Philips on Sunday show, Patel repeatedly characterised the already scheduled mid-point review into the BBC’s charter, due to begin early next year, as likely to involve significant changes to its structures:
“Next year is an opportunity when it comes to the mid-term review of the BBC charter for government and the BBC to absolutely look at new ways of governance of the institution, the organisation,” she said.
“My colleagues in government will absolutely make sure that that is used as the right opportunity not just for reflection but to enhance governance and accountability of the BBC.”
“There will be a very, very significant moment now, there’s no question about this, where lessons have to be learned. Yes, within the BBC itself, within the leadership of the BBC, journalists, and people who work for the BBC too, but ultimately, for governance and accountability that would lead to public trust and confidence in the way the BBC operates and the way in which is conducts its business.”
Patel’s comments mark a significant apparent hardening of attitudes in the days since the publication of a report by the former supreme court judge John Dyson, which found journalist Martin Bashir used “deceitful behaviour” to secure the interview with Diana.
Dyson found Bashir had commissioned fake bank statements that falsely suggested people were being paid to monitor Diana so as to gain access to her, and that the BBC had sought to cover up what had happened for many years.
It prompted a barrage of criticism of the corporation, with princes William and Harry condemning what they called a deception that had heightened the paranoia of their mother.
Culture department sources initially played down the expectation of wholesale changes to the BBC’s structure, noting that its governance had already been radically altered in the 26 years since the interview, and that ministers would firstly try and assess if the new systems were sufficiently robust.
Patel took a notably more robust line, saying it was “a very, very important time for the BBC to look at itself and learn some important and significant lessons”.
She said: “It’s important to recognise the criticism and the deep concern associated with the report that was published by Lord Dyson.
“The BBC, one of our great institutions, its reputation has been compromised. They will have to reflect on the report and spend a great deal of time, I think, looking at how they can regain and rebuild the trust and confidence of the British public.
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, would use the mid-charter review “as an opportunity to review governance and accountability structures”, Patel said, adding: “And post-this report, that’s going to be a very, very important moment.”
So much for an independent state broadcaster.
The Observer reports that Home Secretary, Priti Patel has said, giving the clearest indication yet that ministers are considering potentially sweeping changes to how it is run.
They say that in an interview with Sky’s Trevor Philips on Sunday show, Patel repeatedly characterised the already scheduled mid-point review into the BBC’s charter, due to begin early next year, as likely to involve significant changes to its structures:
“Next year is an opportunity when it comes to the mid-term review of the BBC charter for government and the BBC to absolutely look at new ways of governance of the institution, the organisation,” she said.
“My colleagues in government will absolutely make sure that that is used as the right opportunity not just for reflection but to enhance governance and accountability of the BBC.”
“There will be a very, very significant moment now, there’s no question about this, where lessons have to be learned. Yes, within the BBC itself, within the leadership of the BBC, journalists, and people who work for the BBC too, but ultimately, for governance and accountability that would lead to public trust and confidence in the way the BBC operates and the way in which is conducts its business.”
Patel’s comments mark a significant apparent hardening of attitudes in the days since the publication of a report by the former supreme court judge John Dyson, which found journalist Martin Bashir used “deceitful behaviour” to secure the interview with Diana.
Dyson found Bashir had commissioned fake bank statements that falsely suggested people were being paid to monitor Diana so as to gain access to her, and that the BBC had sought to cover up what had happened for many years.
It prompted a barrage of criticism of the corporation, with princes William and Harry condemning what they called a deception that had heightened the paranoia of their mother.
Culture department sources initially played down the expectation of wholesale changes to the BBC’s structure, noting that its governance had already been radically altered in the 26 years since the interview, and that ministers would firstly try and assess if the new systems were sufficiently robust.
Patel took a notably more robust line, saying it was “a very, very important time for the BBC to look at itself and learn some important and significant lessons”.
She said: “It’s important to recognise the criticism and the deep concern associated with the report that was published by Lord Dyson.
“The BBC, one of our great institutions, its reputation has been compromised. They will have to reflect on the report and spend a great deal of time, I think, looking at how they can regain and rebuild the trust and confidence of the British public.
The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, would use the mid-charter review “as an opportunity to review governance and accountability structures”, Patel said, adding: “And post-this report, that’s going to be a very, very important moment.”
So much for an independent state broadcaster.
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A State controlled BBC.? Events from 1995 may have happened but a lot of other events have happened since,eg Credit crash MP,s expenses.What curbs on the BBC happened then?I for one I would rather have media coverage of the sleaze,corruption (add your own words) of the media today who were as complicit then as they are now for selling papers of other peoples misfortunes.
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