The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Cameron: BBC cuts are “delicious”

“We’re all in it together, including, deliciously, the BBC,” says David Cameron.

By George Eaton Published 29 October 2010 15:30

David Cameron may insist that he does not "relish" the spending cuts but, in the case of the BBC, he's just allowed the mask to slip. Speaking at a Brussels press conference, the PM began his salvo with a dig at the Beeb for sending too many journalists to cover major events.

He said: "Good to see that costs are being controlled everywhere – let's take the third question from the BBC."

He then shifted things up a gear by declaring that "we're all in it together, including, deliciously, the BBC".

The remark came in response to a question from Newnight's Michael Crick, who asked Cameron how he would justify an EU budget rise of 2.9 per cent to the British public. The PM replied:

I would explain patiently – as I hope you will on Newsnight – that we were facing a 6 per cent increase. We've pegged that back to 2.9 per cent.

At the same time, I will say, 'We're all in it together, including, deliciously, the BBC, who in another negotiation agreed a licence fee freeze for six years. So what is good for the EU is good for the BBC.'

Crick butted in: "We're getting a freeze. We'd love 2.9 per cent." To which Cameron replied: "Well, I'm afraid it's going to be a freeze. I am sure there are some savings available."

In fact, the licence fee freeze and the decision to force the BBC to bear the cost of funding the World Service and S4C means the corporation faces a real-terms cut of 16 per cent.

Cameron's words may seem frivolous enough, but they reflect a firm belief in the Conservative Party that the BBC must "do more with less". Recall Michael Gove's clash with Sarah Montague on the Today programme earlier this year. Gove argued:

I believe in value for money. It is maybe a concept that was alien to the last government and it may not be a concept that the BBC would like to see applied to public expenditure, but I believe that it is important that the taxpayer gets protection for the money that it spent on his or her behalf.

The coalition's drive to reduce the size and scope of the BBC does little to dispel evidence of an informal pact with the Murdoch empire.

Hat-tip: James Kirkup

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Tags: David Cameron BBC

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15 comments

Fri, 2010-10-29 15:42 — Jamie (not verified)

Actually the freeze itself wouldn't be a 16% real terms cut. It's the fact that the World Service and S4C are being dumped on the BBC as well that push it up that high.

Fri, 2010-10-29 15:46 — Terrible But True (not verified)

'BBC cuts are "delicious"'

As can be irony.

'PM began his salvo with a dig at the Beeb for sending so many journalists to cover major events.'

One rather thinks the rest of the country has noticed, too. And not, with a few exceptions, in a good way.

Can't wait to read what market rate talent Mr. Crick 'has learned' from 'a source' later.

Fri, 2010-10-29 16:17 — Dave C (not verified)

The BBC coverage of Cameron's supposed 'victory' is very sceptical.

"David Cameron claims EU budget success" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11651851

Not the use of the word "claims". I don't the think the 6% was ever on the cards.

Gavin Hewitt: "Cameron's EU budget battle"

"The curious part of this is that it was known over the summer that a freeze [in the budget] was not on the cards. Back then the EU Council of Ministers had agreed that they would settle for an increase of 2.9%. Britain did not agree to this, but without a veto had to accept it. An increase of 2.9% would mean that Britain would end up paying an extra £500 million.

"That was the agreed negotiating position for talks with the European Parliament, which had voted for a 6% increase. Those negotiations, under the auspices of the Commission, are about to get under way. It would be very difficult if not impossible for Britain to change the EU Council's position.

"The second curious fact is that the budget for 2011 is not formally on the summit agenda. David Cameron will have to raise it on the fringe of the discussions or in bilateral meetings. So the attention of the UK press is on an issue that barely warrants attention elsewhere."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/10/camerons_eu_...

In other words, Cameron's a PR man who's sold the more gullible media a load of spin.

Fri, 2010-10-29 17:46 — Yeti (not verified)

The BBC is rightfully doomed as a public service provider in its current form because it is both inherently biased towards its union dominated agenda and it stifles competition in the marketplace.

Fri, 2010-10-29 17:46 — Peter (not verified)

The signs are the pressure is really getting to Cameron. He doesn't deal with tough questioning very well and is prone to aggression, which is never a pleasant trait for a leader.

Sometimes his efforts at 'cleverness' backfire on him, too, hence the open goal handed to Crick there.

Fri, 2010-10-29 17:56 — Michael Read (not verified)

Back of the net, isn't it, by Cameron?

Remind me. How much is the director-general paid, and the whole tribe of underlings doing nothing much?

Fri, 2010-10-29 18:15 — Luddite (not verified)

Read somewhere the BBC are going on strike.. Christ NO!! what the fuck are we all going to do? Maybe watch. SKY. CNN. ITN. FOX NEWS. Go on BBC, few will notice...

Fri, 2010-10-29 18:27 — Graeme (not verified)

I would not watch any of your list, they are crap.

Mon, 2010-11-01 03:55 — Greg Dyke (not verified)

To see your words twisted by knaves to set a trap for fools!

Fri, 2010-10-29 19:46 — Neville Peters (not verified)

Watching "SKY. CNN. ITN. FOX NEWS." shows you the value of the BBC.

Cameron has made a fool of himself here.

Fri, 2010-10-29 20:19 — Alex (not verified)

A 16% cut means that the BBC will only send 22 crew to the next Chilean mining disaster rather than the recent 25.

Whenever a minister is questioned about BBC cuts by a BBC interviewer, all he has to do is say "I am paid £X to be a minister. How much are you paid to do your job?". End of argument.

Fri, 2010-10-29 22:46 — David Page (not verified)

Oh, please, someone commented that Cameron was being 'unkind' and 'hard' in his attitude to the BBC.

Well, their time has come. The BBC has been bloated for years and must be forced to cut its cloth - it's immoral that individuals are taxed to watch something.

What I suspect is that the beeb has negotiated itself into a corner with some of its journos, in that their contracts stipulate what they will and won't do, whereas most private companies build flexibility into allowing them to direct staff wherever they like.

The BBC is no longer a public service it is a broadcasting company and should be made to seek alternative forms of funding. The TV licence is an anachronism that has protected the BBC from the realities of commercial life. It is time it stood on its own two feet and ran a business not a journo welfare centre.

Fri, 2010-10-29 23:34 — Peter (not verified)

Basically, Cameron's efforts to spin a 'victory' in Europe have fallen flat on their arse. No amount of unwarranted BBC bashing or sucking up to Murdoch and his dreadful outlets will cover that up.

Gotta love those News International astroturfers though. They never fail to amuse.

Sat, 2010-10-30 12:18 — Robert Taggart

Delicious indeed.
Next - reduce the age for the free licence down to 67 (this being the state pension age eventually) and pay for that through the licence fee !
Auntie Beeb could not complain... the money would going to their cause !