Fall from Grace

I lived abroad for a number of years in a number of countries, I also travelled extensively with my job even when I lived in the UK. The one thing that always linked me back to my mother country was the BBC and BBC Worldwide, I trusted the information being given to me by the BBC, I never questioned it. In fact I held up the BBC as a shining example of unbiased and factual reporting that can be relied upon by anyone, anywhere.

Panorama, and in particular Bashir, have completely blown that away. Together they have done incredible damage, perhaps irreparable damage, to an icon of dependable and independent reporting, of British fair play and of Britishness itself. BBC Senior Management have not covered themselves in glory either, hush ups to protect themselves rather than the reputation of the BBC although ironically they no doubt thought they were acting in the best interests of the BBC. As Marcellus might say in Hamlet “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" simply substitute Denmark with BBC.

UK Taxpayers, through the license fee, pay for the independence of the BBC, if this independence and truthful reporting can no longer be relied upon then perhaps now is the time question whether it is right to continue with the privileged position the BBC enjoys. If I can't rely more on independent reporting from the BBC any more than I can from commercial TV then I don't need the BBC. I can get all the news I need from commercial sources and I don't need to pay an annual license fee.