Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, commenting on reports of the forthcoming White Paper on the BBC Charter, says:

“John Whittingdale seems determined to diminish the BBC and deliver a Charter that ignores the wishes of the public and is not in the interests of the BBC, license fee payers or our broadcasting industries.

"Proposals to further top slice the license fee and pack a new governing board with Tory appointees would be a real hammer blow to the independence of the BBC, and be more evidence of mendacious meddling on the part of the Secretary of State. Labour will oppose them all the way.

"The Culture Secretary must stop ignoring the wishes of the public, who are clear that they want the BBC to remain independent and to carry on producing the programmes we all enjoy”.