merelygifted:

Editorial: Nothing appears too valuable in British life that cannot be wrecked to save Boris Johnson’s premiership

On Sunday, Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, tweeted that the BBC licence fee will be abolished in 2027 and broadcaster’s funding frozen for the next two years.  The licence fee is the guarantor of the BBC’s financial independence and underpins its unique quality.  Doing away with the funding stream without warning and with no replacement in sight in advance of a mid-charter review revealed Ms Dorries’ true intentions.  The backlash to her peremptory threat was enough for her to back down.  It was hard not to believe the reason the BBC was being sacrificed was to distract attention away from accusations that the prime minister lied over illegal Downing Street parties.  Nothing appears too valuable in British life that cannot be wrecked to save Boris Johnson’s premiership.  …