Well before the General Election, I gave some examples of how politicians were trying to fundamentally meddle with the BBC’s political independence.
I sat down to watch Question Time last night, and nearly spat my teeth out when Dimbleby announced that Cameron’s Government would only send a representative if Alistair Campbell was not on the panel. Oh how petulent and immature our new Government has turned out to be.
The inference is that the Con-Dem coalition are unwilling to speak about their policy and legislature without a front-bench Labour spokesperson present. I’m not quite sure why, as surely not having a senior elected Labour person would make their job easier.
The fact that the Tories couldn’t be arsed to field a shadow minister for every programme when Labour were in power sailed over their heads. When the tables are turned, apparently the Con-Dems don’t like it.
This also shows how the Tories and Lib Dems view the BBC as a tool they can push around at will. Back in September 2009, Jeremy Hunt was pretty open in his view that the BBC should have more openly Conservative newsreaders.
What is the point of having a Royal Charter to set out the independence of the BBC from political interference if the Cameron-Clegg Government are going to undermine that very independence within two days of the Queen’s speech to Parliament?
More to the point, if the Tories and Lib Dems feel that they are so powerful and lacking in hmility that they feel they can veto a guest on a political programme, what will their next objective be?
If you value the impartiality of the BBC, be very wary over the next five years.
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