The BBC: evil in the wrong hands

It is true that editors of local newspapers around the country are concerned about the BBC and its voracious appetite to do what newspapers like The Yorkshire Post are best placed to do – represent local communities.

And at a time when the Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, is keen to stress how determined she and her government are to ‘rip up’ the deal previously made on the cost of the rising licence fee, it would be easy to fall into the trap of taking sides on whether Aunty is for good or not.

Let this newspaper be clear: the BBC should not be bulldozing its way through – using public money – local communities with its own unique brand of so-called journalism. What are essentially state-funded, taxpayer supported journalists – unable to campaign in any meaningful way owing to impartiality rules – arm-wrestling historic, small, local and regional news titles into the table is just plain wrong.

But there is plenty to love and celebrate about the BBC. From groundbreaking drama to environmental programming of existential importance.

Which is why this moment should not be considered a crossroads, but more one where the national broadcaster peers through its kaleidoscopic remit in order to focus on the things it does which, when done well, makes it a nation’s advocate on a global scale. A piece of soft power, if you will, that helps cement our place in world politics.

Putting local papers out of business, it should not.