Brown's BBC licence fee cuts depressing - Foster

4.37.25pm GMT Mon 8th Jan 2007

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's lobby of Parliament over the reported cuts in the BBC licence fee, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster MP said:

"For years the BBC has been the envy of the world, but the reported real terms cut in the licence fee will place that reputation in jeopardy.

"The BBC has already made big savings and cut jobs. There's a limit to how much more can be squeezed out without damaging creative output.

"If the cut goes ahead and the Government insists that the BBC must pay the the nation's costs for the digital switchover and the move to Manchester, then programme quality and innovation are bound to suffer.

"Tony Blair sought to bully the BBC. His likely successor seems determined to wreck it."

Applicability: this item refers to the UK.