“Do not adjust your set. Normal service from the BBC means you will hear people you disagree with saying things you don’t like. That’s our job.” A year ago that was my response to a warning (or was it a threat?) from the former culture secretary John Whittingdale. The BBC would face sanctions and fines from Ofcom unless we ended our alleged anti-Brexit bias, he said. My message was re-tweeted and liked by thousands.
So, it is with some sadness that I feel the need to reissue this reminder to those who I suspect were cheering me on then – ardent Remainers. Now it is Andrew Adonis who is trying to soften up the Corporation by claiming that the BBC is in breach of its charter, as we have – he claims, without presenting a shred of evidence – decided to back Brexit for fear of losing the licence fee.
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