News Release
18 November 2008
CAMERON WARNS OF ‘CRUSHING’ POWER OF
BBC AND QUESTIONS TRUST’S INDEPENDENCE 
David
Cameron has attacked the BBC Trust claiming the function
of the regulatory body “doesn’t make sense” after calling
for the BBC’s encroachment into commercial markets to be
restrained.
Speaking at the Newspaper Conference annual lunch, the
Conservative Party leader said plans had been drawn up for a
stronger public interest test to rein in the broadcaster’s impact
on other businesses.
Mr Cameron also praised the role of regional newspapers,
saying they were “valuable in terms of the health of a
combative democracy”, as well as pledging his support for the
decentralisation of government, and a fundamental shift in power to
“local people”.
Mr Cameron was asked about the Conservative Party’s stance on
BBC proposals to introduce video footage across 65 regional news
websites. The plans have attracted widespread criticism from
politicians, including shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, as
well as the local media industry.
Mr Cameron said: “They [the BBC] have got to bear in mind
that when they enter new markets, they are often in danger of
crushing with the great big foot of the BBC enterprise,
entrepreneurship and risk and capital that other organisations have
put into those areas.
“Things like what they have been doing in education, some
of the things they’ve been done online, their plans for video on
demand, and some of what they’ve been doing in competition with
local newspapers, those are the things where they should be
restrained.
“We have set out with Jeremy Hunt a way in which that a
stronger public interest test could be done. I think that does have
to happen.
“I’d also like to see them [the BBC] regulated more in the
way of other commercial television companies. I know the BBC Trust
is an improvement on the old form of government but to me
independent regulation has got to be independent.
“I still don’t really understand how you can partly be
regulated by the BBC Trust, which is you, and partly by Ofcom. It
doesn’t make sense.”
Speaking to regional press publishers, editors and journalists
at the Lanesborough Hotel in London, Mr Cameron praised the
industry saying it was “vitally important” for the
Conservative Party in communicating an alternative to
government.
He added: “That’s why we will put in as much work as we
can into a relationship with you because we think you’re a valuable
institution, in and of yourself, but also you’re valuable in terms
of the health of a combative democracy.”
Mr Cameron was welcomed to the lunch by Mark Hookham,
political editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post and
chairman of the Newspaper Conference. The vote of thanks was given
by Northcliffe Newspapers managing director Michael Pelosi, also
Newspaper Society president.
Administered by the Newspaper Society, the Newspaper
Conference is made up of 20 regional press journalists based in
Westminster.
- BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons and BBC director general Mark
Thompson were questioned about the BBC Local Video plans and their
impact on local media businesses by the Culture, Media & Sport
select committee today (Tuesday).
- The BBC Trust is due to publish its provisional conclusions on
the BBC local video proposals on Friday 21 November.
The NS, the voice of Britain’s local
media, represents 1300 newspapers, 1100 websites, 750 magazines, 36
radio stations and two TV stations.