BBC chiefs face bias and abuse of power probe

MINISTERS have opened up a fresh front with the BBC over accusations of its editorial bias by launching a major review focused on its compliance with ‘impartiality requirements’.

A mid-term review being announced later this week is expected to reignite tensions between the Government and the Corporation over claims its output is too skewed towards a Left-wing, so-called ‘Islingtonian’ world view.

It comes against the backdrop of threats by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to scrap the £159 a year licence fee when the current Royal charter ends in 2027.

The review, held at the midpoint of the ten-year charter, is expected to examine whether the BBC abuses its dominant market position to the detriment of commercial rivals.

It is also expected to look at whether or not the communications regulator Ofcom is ‘holding the BBC to account’ by assessing ‘the effectiveness of the BBC’s governance mechanisms… in ensuring compliance with its editorial standards including impartiality requirements’.

A White Paper published last month declared that the Government intended to put in place a new funding model when the £3.2billion a year licence fee deal expires in five years, as part of plans to make the British broadcasting system ‘fit for the streaming age’.

Ms Dorries said the current model was ‘completely outdated’ and Ministers would be ‘looking very seriously about how we fund the BBC’, with decisions taken ‘well ahead’ of the charter renewal in 2027.

She has frozen the fee at £159 for the next two years, after which it will increase by roughly 10 per cent over the following four years.

The spiralling inflation rate – currently 9 per cent – means that the BBC will be forced to find savings of more than £1billion over the next five years.

Possible alternatives to the licence fee include some form of voluntary Netflix-style subscription model, allowing the BBC to have advertising, or imposing a broadband levy.

Ms Dorries has previously criticised the BBC’s approach as ‘elitist’ and ‘snobbish’ and has accused it of being dominated by anti-Brexit, Left-wing staff, with too many ‘dull, boring, male and ageing wig-wearing men’ presenting programmes. Tensions grew further during the Partygate rows, which No10 said was being given excessive airtime by the BBC.

One senior Government figure said it ‘felt like the BBC isn’t going to stop until [Boris Johnson’s] gone’.

A Government source said: ‘The review will examine closely the way the BBC handles complaints through its BBC First system, and Ofcom’s framework for assessing BBC complaints as part of ensuring effective oversight of the BBC and its relationship with licence fee payers.’

SARAH VINE IS AWAY