Ministers aiming to “intimidate” the BBC – Maria Eagle

Maria Eagle has accused the Government of trying to “intimidate” the BBC in an attempt to “weaken any opposition” using their powers over broadcasting and media.

She said ministers had adopted a “ruthless” approach to gain party political advantage, rather than supporting UK broadcasting, when she spoke today at the Creative Industries Federation.

“We have a Government that has shown itself committed to trying to ensure it wins the next election by skewing the political landscape for their own party political advantage.”

“Ever since the Tories surprisingly won the election almost a year ago, we have seen their ruthless use of the power of Government to achieve this.

“It is a comprehensive programme designed to benefit their electoral chances in 2020 and to disadvantage other political parties but in particular the Labour Party.”

This follows moves to cut Labour party funding, weaken the voices of trade unions, and threaten the policy work of charities, all of which have been described as “authoritarian” behaviour.

Eagle, the shadow Culture Secretary, said this came from an “ideological” position with no understanding of the BBC.

“The BBC’s independence from politicians is the most important thing about it. The Government believes that the BBC gets in the way of commercial broadcasting and distorts what they think would otherwise be a perfect market.

“The BBC doesn’t belong to any Government, any more than it belongs to any Director General – it belongs to all of us.”

She also criticised Conservative underspending on the creative industries, warning that their focus on the EU threatened “volatility” to the sector.

“Creative industries are growing at twice the level of the UK economy, growing jobs at twice the level one would expect and contributing heftily over the odds to UK export performance.”

John Whittingdale, the Culture Secretary, has presided over a “completely unacceptable delay” in handling the renewal of the BBC charter and has been “obsessing about exiting the EU.”

_{Photo credit: Ian Watts}