Credit: Number 10
Culture secretary John Whittingdale is expected to outline government policy on the BBC in a speech at the Oxford Media Convention this week. All the parties, as well as recent select committee reports, and even the chair of the BBC Trust, agree that reform of BBC regulation is necessary.
Whittingdale is also, however, a prominent leader of the Brexit campaign. This puts him – and BBC reform – in a perilous position. It is normal, and entirely understandable in the hurly burly of a campaign, for protagonists to perceive news reports as unfair. It is a near certainty that the campaign the culture minister backs will make multiple formal and informal complaints to the BBC for unfair coverage, and that tempers will fray.
