The director-general of the BBC has welcomed the Government’s blueprint for the corporation’s next 11 years as 'a mandate for the strong, creative BBC the public believe in'.
Lord Hall said he believed the Royal Charter envisaged in Culture Secretary John Whittingdale’s White Paper would deliver 'a BBC that will be good for the creative industries – and most importantly of all, for Britain'.
BBC director-general Tony Hall (Adrian Dennis/PA)
But he raised concerns about plans for the National Audit Office to scrutinise BBC spending, warning that editorial decision-making must be explicitly excluded from its remit.
And he said the BBC had 'an honest disagreement' with ministers over the appointments process for the new BBC board and would continue to seek changes, insisting that it was 'vital for the future of the BBC that its independence is fully preserved'.
The BBC said that external regulation by Ofcom was 'the right thing to do'.
Armando Iannucci (Ian West/PA)
Satirist Armando Iannucci, who has been a high-profile critic of Mr Whittingdale’s proposals for change at the BBC, responded with relief to the White Paper, saying the details were 'good to hear', with 'no cuts to BBC budget, no interference in schedules and majority on Board not appointed by the Government'.
Iannucci – the director behind BBC hits including The Thick of It and I’m Alan Partridge – tweeted:
Good to hear that quality and distinctiveness is emphasised. The BBC does it anyway:now it should be left to get on with it. #BBCwhitepaper
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) May 12, 2016
Let's never go through again 10 or so months of uncertainty and anti-BBC tone that damaged the best TV industry in the world. #BBCwhitepaper
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) May 12, 2016
And let's keep up the pressure on editorial independence of the BBC. And start thinking now of Channel 4. #BBCwhitepaper
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) May 12, 2016
This has been a long, tough dialogue. Now's time to celebrate and support a brilliant broadcaster. #BBCwhitepaper
— Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) May 12, 2016
TV scientist Brian Cox, who had warned against interference in the BBC, said on Twitter: “BBC Charter renewal now looks sensible, subject to reducing ministerial influence over appointments to the board.”
Professor Brian Cox (Matt Faber/PA)
MPs came out in support of aspects of the announcement on Twitter.
Welcome news that diversity will be enshrined in the BBC Charter. This is a vital first step in ensuring BBC represents its audience (1/2)
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 12, 2016
Both in terms of on-screen portrayal and off-screen in the BBC's workforce – from the newsroom right up to the boardroom (2/2)
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 12, 2016
Announcement that diversity will be a Public Purpose is a clear victory for campaigners who have called for change #BBCwhitepaper
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 12, 2016
I welcome the enshrinement of diversity in the @BBC Charter. It is the right thing to do and the wise thing to do. pic.twitter.com/YcbcoQBfkM
— Helen Grant (@HelenGrantMP) May 12, 2016
Good that #Ofcom will provide governance of #BBC programme output as they do for other broadcasters. BBC cannot be its own judge and jury.
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) May 12, 2016
But Labour’s Stella Creasy warned:
Devil in detail of #BBCwhitepaper and ability of govt appointees to intervene on issues post transmission-and what impact that could have..
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) May 12, 2016
Shadow Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport Maria Eagle accused Whittingdale of 'ideologically-driven meddling' as he ordered the BBC to ensure it is providing 'distinctive content' rather than simply competing for ratings with commercial rivals.
She said his ideas were 'totally out of step with the licence fee payers who value and support the BBC' and that most of his 'wilder proposals' had been 'watered down, dumped or delayed' in the final document.
But BBC Trust chair Rona Fairhead – who will stay in post at the head of the new board until 2018 – praised the White Paper, saying it 'sets good principles, strengthens the BBC’s governance and regulation and cements a financial settlement that will sustain the strong BBC that is loved and admired by the public'.
