on media Raymond Snoddy on what to expect from the Conservatives


A result on regulation but whither the BBC?


T


here is one small benefit for the press that flows from a Conservative election victory – an end to the


threat of statutory legislation, at least for now. The Conservative manifesto made it clear that self-regulation under Sir Alan Moses and IPSO should be given a chance to prove itself. This is in contrast to both Labour and the Liberal Democrats who were still mired in the ludicrous idea of a Royal Charter on the press and even more daft notions about Press Recognition bodies that nobody in the press is willing to be recognised by. Prime Minister Cameron has pledged


that the Government actually means what it said in its manifesto, except of course for the instant abolition of the European Human Rights Act. This U-turn on human rights is a very positive development and will actually save the Government from near universal opprobrium, outside the columns of the Daily Mail. With a bit of luck we can see an end to the Hacked Off pressure group and the Press Recognition Panel, even though the Gilbert and Sullivan=like body has recently announced a schedule of consultations across the UK. Alas the small mercy for the press could be greatly outweighed by the potential damage the Government could do to the BBC, and Channel 4. There is a tendency within the


Conservative Party that believes the BBC is a nest of leftwing vipers. Its members also probably subscribe to the theory that the Corporation represents too great a distortion of the free market and should be cut back sharply in size. Rupert Murdoch has





been campaigning for this for many years.


The worry is that now one of their own, John Whittingdale, is Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The right-wing press had no doubts ment. It was seen as


about the appointment. It was seen as ar”


a “declaration of war” on the BBC. h


sort out the Corpora


fee was “worse than a poll tax” unsustainable going forw


At last someone has been put in to ration. The licence n a poll tax” and


ng forward, and as for


the BBC Trust, that s as good as toast.’s as good as toast. For good measure will this


government, and this Secretary of sist the tempta


to privatise Channel 4? On a more hopeful note an


Whittingdale does have an


ful note ha


understanding of the media and cade chairing mons Media


he media and the BBC from a decade ch


the House of Commons Media while the


Select Committee, w


Shadow Secretary Chris Bry is a former head of European Affairs for the BBC.


f European .


For the latest updates from Raymond Snoddy on Twitte go to @raymondsnoddy


“ ”


Culture Secretary will listen guments


carefully to the argumen e fee


There is a tendency within the Conservative Party that believes the BBC is a nest of leftwing vipers


on both the licence fee the


and the renewal of the r.


BBC’s Royal Charter A few hints to help with hiselp with his deliberations:


• the licence fee m y bemay be regressive but no-one h


one has so far


found a better way of funding the BBC as a national public service broadcaster


y of funding the public service


• a smaller BBC w would simply mean less money money, fewer


a sector where Britain excels • Middle England is su


ter theJournalist | 19 er


programmes, jobs and training, in ain excels


and training, in of the BBC and use its services


d is supportive its services


We have to belie e thve that the will listen


Chris Bryant


re will this his Secretary of


State, be able to resist the temptation el 4?


extensively. Whittingdale would be wise not to antagonise them • abolish the BBC Trust if you must,


but try to avoid going for the worst possible alternative of regulation by Ofcom, something that would centralise too much power in a single body.


And finally for now, John Whittingdale should oppose Home Secretary Theresa May’s desire for Ofcom to preview programmes in advance You know that is a thoroughly bad


idea that will seriously backfire on all those responsible.


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