Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, responding to reports on the BBC Charter, said:

“The BBC is the single biggest cultural investment we make in the UK and is one of our greatest assets. Yet with time fast running out for Charter renewal, the government still haven’t even started formal negotiations on its future.

“Instead of this spree of wild anonymous briefing about how the Tories are going to cut the BBC down to size, the Government must launch an open, wide and transparent consultation as a matter of urgency.

“There are important issues to address, especially how to regulate the BBC, how to guarantee its independence and how to fund it. The last thing viewers and listeners want is a slash and burn raid on the Beeb.”