Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, responding to the publication of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report into the BBC Charter Review, says:

“This report is a clear vote of confidence in the BBC’s role in making high-quality and distinctive programming, as well as its value as one our most treasured institutions.

“We welcome the Committee’s support to extend the next Charter Renewal process to at least ten years in order to remove it from the political cycle, and their clear opposition to proposals for the next one being five years in length.

“It is of course essential that governance at the BBC improves and that accountability and transparency within the organisation is strengthened. The Committee is right to point out that the BBC Trust is not fit for purpose.

“Under this Government the BBC is at real risk. Labour will oppose any attempt by the Tories to dismantle or downgrade the BBC.”