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News Release 29th January 2004THE BBCFollowing the resignation of Greg Dyke, Director General of the BBC, Michael Fabricant, a senior member of the Commons Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee and a former broadcaster, warned of a "climate of fear" developing in the BBC. Michael said: "Greg Dyke today may have done the honourable thing by resigning, but this is bad news for broadcasting in this country. "Firstly, the BBC needs someone of the calibre of Greg Dyke at the helm and he will be difficult to replace. But secondly, I believe that a climate of fear may now exist within the BBC and if journalists feel themselves to be intimidated, this will not only damage the integrity of the BBC but also set back freedom of speech in our country. "While no one would condone the events surrounding Andrew Gilligan, tens of thousands of hours of broadcasting on the BBC TV and radio channels are transmitted each week. If news output were now to lose its independence and freedom to investigate politicians, then it will not be the Government that has won. It will be the British people who have lost." |
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