Threat to the BBC

Dear Peter, This is the biggest threat to the BBC so far. John Whittingdale, the minister who’s deciding our BBC’s future, just announced he wants the government to choose the people who run the BBC. [1] It means our most trusted broadcaster could be left in the hands of a government that wants to see it fail. Whittingdale sneaked out his devastating plan at the weekend, to a newspaper that’s behind a paywall. [1] He knows that another scandal might put a stop to his plans to undermine the BBC for good. [2] So he’ll be hoping that 38 Degrees members aren’t paying attention. We’ve got to act fast. If enough us sign an emergency petition demanding the BBC stays independent, 38 Degrees members will deliver it to him in person early next week. And exposing his plans in public will shine a light on his real agenda to dismantle our BBC. Please can you add your name to the emergency petition now? Sign the Petition The way decisions are made in the BBC is under review. [3] But John Whittingdale’s using this as an opportunity to push his anti-BBC agenda and put his people in charge. They would have the power to decide news coverage and which BBC programmes are made. [4] It could mean the end of the BBC as we know it. Whittingdale’s feeling the pressure right now thanks to a series of damaging revelations on his plans for the BBC - including being caught lying about reading responses to the public consultation. [5] If we turn up the heat now, Whittingdale will have no option but to back down. If thousands of us sign this emergency petition, then deliver it to him in just a few days, we could make Whittingdale realise that he’s fighting a losing battle and leave our BBC alone. This week could become the turning point in our people-powered campaign to protect the BBC. Can you sign the emergency petition now? It’ll take less than 2 minutes: Sign the Petition Thanks for being involved, Lorna, Bex, Laura and the rest of the 38 Degrees team NOTES: [1] The Sunday Times: BBC will be ruled by No10 appointees: (this article is behind a paywall, which means you need to sign up in order to read it. But you can read a version of this story from the Guardian below) http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Arts/article1677767.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2016_03_13 The Guardian: Government will choose most members of BBC board, says Whittingdale: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/13/government-choose-bbc-board-john-whittingdale [2] Here's a few examples recently where John Whittingdale has been feeling the heat over his plans to rip the heart out of our BBC: BBC News: BBC Charter renewal 'may be delayed': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35725452 The Telegraph: Radio Times threatens John Whittingdale with judicial review over BBC consultation: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/12193836/Radio-Times-threatens-John-Whittingdale-with-judicial-review-over-BBC-consultation.html The Guardian: BBC News most trusted source for more than half of people in the UK: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/10/bbc-news-most-trusted-source-for-more-than-half-of-people-in-the-uk [3] BBC News: BBC Green Paper: Key points: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33556009 [4] The Guardian: Government will choose most members of BBC board, says Whittingdale: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/13/government-choose-bbc-board-john-whittingdale [5] The Telegraph: Radio Times threatens John Whittingdale with judicial review over BBC consultation: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/12193836/Radio-Times-threatens-John-Whittingdale-with-judicial-review-over-BBC-consultation.html