Parliamentarians decry BBC cuts
More than 60 parliamentarians write to Ofcom as MPs discuss the corporation.
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More than 60 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have contacted Dame Melanie Dawes, the chief executive of Ofcom, to express their joint concern about the latest cuts to national and regional BBC news and political programmes.
Ofcom is obliged by the BBC's Royal Charter and the Communications Act 2003 to include conditions in its broadcast licences that comply with obligations on production and regional programming.
The politicians signed up to the letter asked Ofcom to exercise its regulatory duty and assess whether the cuts will endanger the BBC's ability to fulfil its statutory duties.
They also asked Ofcom to intervene, if necessary, to ensure that regional coverage of news and political affairs is not eroded, and ensure the corporation continues to serve the public interest.
In parliament on Tuesday 21 July, MPs debated the changes to the licence fee, BBC programming and job cuts in response to an urgent question tabled by Daisy Cooper.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said:
"The NUJ extends thanks to those parliamentarians who are prepared to stand with us to protect and defend the BBC.
"The government's penchant for under-funding and undermining Britain's largest public broadcaster has not stopped, not even during the Covid crisis when the BBC has proved just how important it remains for the nation and the world.
"Instead of praising the journalists and staff who have been out reporting and working during the lockdown, the plan is to cut them.
"The NUJ remains committed to stand up to this relentless government vandalism, the BBC is not perfect but it is a key institution at the very heart of our society, it must be defended."
The signatories
The full list of parliamentarians who have signed the letter to Ofcom:
| Tahir | Ali | Labour |
| Harriet | Baldwin | Conservative |
| Paula | Barker | Labour |
| Clive | Betts | Labour |
| Deidre | Brock | SNP |
| Alan | Brown | SNP |
| Richard | Burgon | Labour |
| Ian | Byrne | Labour |
| Wendy | Chamberlain | Lib Dem |
| Daisy | Cooper | Lib Dem |
| Jeremy | Corbyn | Labour |
| Jon | Cruddas | Labour |
| Alex | Cunningham | Labour |
| Lord Alf | Dubs | Labour |
| Michael | Fabricant | Conservative |
| Marian | Fellowes | SNP |
| Lord Don | Foster | Lib Dem |
| Lord George | Foulkes | Labour |
| Yvonne | Fovargue | Labour |
| Mary | Foy | Labour |
| Sir Roger | Gale | Conservative |
| Barry | Gardiner | Labour |
| Neil | Gray | SNP |
| Lillian | Greenwood | Labour |
| Jonathan | Gullis | Conservative |
| Andrew | Gwynne | Labour |
| Robert | Halfon | Conservative |
| Claire | Hanna | SDLP |
| Gordon | Henderson | Conservative |
| Mike | Hill | Labour |
| Meg | Hillier | Labour |
| Sir George | Howarth | Labour |
| Christine | Jardine | Lib Dem |
| Kim | Johnson | Labour |
| Diana | Johnson | Labour |
| Darren | Jones | Labour |
| Barbara | Keeley | Labour |
| Ian | Lavery | Labour |
| Chris | Law | SNP |
| Clive | Lewis | Labour |
| Tony | Lloyd | Labour |
| Chris | Loder | Conservative |
| Rebecca | Long-Bailey | Labour |
| Caroline | Lucas | Green |
| Steve | McCabe | Labour |
| Stuart | McDonald | SNP |
| John | McDonnell | Labour |
| Anne | McLoughlin | SNP |
| Rt Hon Lord | McNally | Lib Dem |
| Grahame | Morris | Labour |
| Gavin | Newlands | SNP |
| John | Nicolson | SNP |
| Kate | Osborne | Labour |
| Neil | Parrish | Conservative |
| Liz | Saville Roberts | Plaid Cymru |
| Henry | Smith | Conservative |
| John | Spellar | Labour |
| Chris | Stephens | SNP |
| Grahame | Stringer | Labour |
| Zarah | Sultana | Labour |
| Richard | Thomson | SNP |
| Christian | Wakeford | Conservative |
| Claudia | Webbe | Labour |
| Mick | Whitley | Labour |
| William | Wragg | Conservative |
| Mohammed | Yasin | Labour |
The NUJ's 60+ council is calling on all union members to supports the BBC campaign and tell the government to 'pick up the bill' for free TV licences for over-75s.
Please contact your local political representatives about it: