Conservatives play down talk of ‘war’ with BBC
Incoming Conservative business secretary Sajid Javid has sought to play down media speculation that the government is preparing to go to "war" with the BBC over the licence fee following the appointment of a key critic, John Whittingdale, as culture secretary, according to the Guardian.
Javid offered public backing for his colleague, who once likened the licence fee to the poll tax, and blamed fighting talk in the press on an air of "over excitement", adding that the levy is likely to remain in place until 2026.
The Telegraph, a regular critic of the public sector broadcaster, described Whittingdale’s appointment as a "declaration of war" and a wake-up call designed to impress upon management the need to reform.
Anti-BBC sentiments are widely held amongst the right-wing press; notably The Sun and The Times, which accuse the corporation of pursuing a left-wing agenda.