BBC staff facing 'gagging clauses' for speaking out over leaving presenters like Burnsy

BBC staff have been subject to “gagging clauses” and fear losing their redundancy pay if they speak out about local radio cuts, MPs have heard.
Mason Boycott-Owen
By Mason Boycott-Owen
Published 27th Apr 2023, 12:16 GMT
Updated 27th Apr 2023, 12:17 GMT

Labour former minister Dame Diana Johnson made the remark as she warned local radio content was being “trashed” by moves to require the 39 stations to share more content and broadcast less programming unique to their areas.

Culture minister Julia Lopez said she would do her best to “get some heads wobbling” at the BBC as she noted the House of Commons considered the cuts “regretful”.

The BBC has previously said the changes would lead to a loss of 48 jobs across local staffing in England and argued its changes sought to “modernise” services across the country, including more news journalists and a “stronger local online service”.

David Burns will be leaving his show on BBC Radio HumbersideDavid Burns will be leaving his show on BBC Radio Humberside
David Burns will be leaving his show on BBC Radio Humberside

Dame Diana, MP for Kingston upon Hull North, told the House of Commons: “I am absolutely furious that BBC Radio Humberside is essentially being trashed.

“Local radio content will end at 2pm each day, there is no coverage at weekends, local presenters including ones like Burnsy (David Burns) have had to reapply for their jobs, and only one was successful.

“The rest now are facing gagging clauses and fear of losing their redundancy pay if they speak out.”

She added: “This is basically the end of local public service radio which is irreplaceable and the BBC management won’t listen.

“It is easier to get a meeting with the Prime Minister than it is with the director-general. Can I ask the ministers to do what Burnsy would suggest and get BBC managers to give their heads a wobble and sort this out?”

Ms Lopez replied: “I shall do my best to get some heads wobbling.

“I know that she is a very big supporter of Radio Humberside and also her local BBC television in Look North. I know it is also very difficult for those journalists affected.

“The BBC has told us that these are cost-neutral changes and they are moving resources digital and providing some additional resource in relation to original journalism, but I think this House has said many times, effectively expressed its collective opinion that these cuts are regretful and it is something we will continue to discuss with the BBC.”

Conservative MP Damian Green, the acting chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, asked if ministers planned new protections for local radio in a forthcoming Media Bill.

He said: “Can she let us know whether that Media Bill will do anything to protect the essential BBC local radio services that many people beyond this House, not just in this House, find a very important part of the broadcasting landscape?”

Ms Lopez said: “We are not, via primary legislation, going to protect specific parts of the BBC, but we have a number of very important measures on radio services that we feel very strongly about including in that legislation.

“That includes on smart speakers, we also want to reduce regulatory burdens and costs on radio stations, but we also want to strengthen the protections for local news and content and hopefully that will help with some of these issues.”