While facing a crisis motivated by the holding of parties amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the government of Boris Johnson has signaled that it wants to cut funding for the BBC from 2027, according to a Daily Mail report published on Saturday (15).
The public broadcaster and the British government had been negotiating since last November a financing agreement scheduled to start in April 2022, with a duration of five years. At the conclusion of the negotiations, on Saturday night, the Secretary of Culture, Nadine Dorries, informed about the freezing, for the next two years, of the tax of 159 pounds (R$ 1,200) paid by taxpayers.
According to the British newspaper, Dorries would also be considering pegging future increases to rates below inflation between 2024 and 2027 – from then on, if the Conservatives are still in power, a new financing model must be adopted, ending the tax paid by the taxpayer. .
The secretary reinforced this intention by share the Daily Mail report on social media, stating that “this rate announcement will be the last”. “The days of elders being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on their doors are over,” he wrote. “The time is now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content.”
The BBC declined to comment on Dorries’ post.
The debate over the funding of the British Broadcasting Corporation, which depends in part on British taxpayers, is ongoing in the country, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own government recently suggested a reform in its funding.
The information, however, comes amidst the prime minister’s weariness over events held at his official Downing Street residence, which led to politically motivated accusations by the Labor opposition.
“The prime minister and the culture secretary seem determined to attack this great British institution because they don’t like its journalism,” said party lawmaker Lucy Powell.
The justification for the measure, however, would be inflation in the United Kingdom, which is expected to reach its highest value in 30 years in April: 6% or more. Thus, freezing the rate would mean relief to consumers who are dealing with a rising cost of living.
On the other hand, it would be a blow to the BBC’s finances, which face a competitive environment made up of private media outlets and subscription-backed streaming services.
The broadcaster’s publications are often criticized by politicians in the UK. Coverage on issues linked to Brexit — the departure from the European Union that is at the heart of the Boris government — has long been viewed as too critical by divorce supporters.
Last week, a conservative lawmaker, the same party as the prime minister, said that the broadcaster’s coverage of parties at the official residence during restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus amounted to an attempted coup against the prime minister.
Boris faces resignation calls, including from members of his own party, precisely due to parties at the official residence at a time when the UK was under strict confinement.
A poll released on Friday found that the opposition, from the Labor Party, had a ten-point lead for Boris’ conservatives. With 42% of the preference, the party reached its best mark since 2013 – the premier’s party got a share of 32%.
In a survey of 2,151 adults on Thursday, 70% said they wanted the prime minister to resign.
The recent series of scandals began when another event took place on Downing Street during the 2020 Christmas season, when in-person celebrations were banned due to sanitary restrictions. The episode led to the resignation of an aide to Boris.
Just last month, British newspapers The Guardian and The Independent carried out an investigation pointing out that around 20 government officials held a party in May 2020 – but there are reports that there were as many as 40. A photo of the event, washed down with cheese and wine, showed the prime minister in the garden of the official residence, which contradicted his initial version that no celebration had taken place.
The crisis worsened on Monday (10), when the ITV network released an email sent by the prime minister’s private secretary inviting at least 100 cabinet officials to the occasion.
“After an incredibly busy period, it would be good to make the most of the pleasant weather and socially-distance a few drinks in the gardens at number 10,” the message from Martin Reynolds read. “Please join us from 6pm and bring your drink!”
Under pressure, Boris admitted for the first time on Wednesday (12) that he broke the confinement rules by participating in the party. In front of Parliament, he said that the outrage caused was understandable.
In the prime minister’s version, he thought that the event was a work meeting, as the garden of the official residence functions, according to him, as an extension of the office. Boris said he stayed there for 25 minutes to thank the staff and then returned to his office.
Another apology, this time to Queen Elizabeth II, came on Friday, after the press revealed that government officials broke confinement rules and had parties in Downing Street on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral.
Information about the parties the day before the queen’s husband’s funeral was reported by the Telegraph on Thursday (13). According to the British newspaper, employees of Boris’ office drank alcohol in abundance, and some guests danced until late at the farewell of communications director James Slack and a photographer of the British leader, events that took place separately.
This Friday (14), another complaint came. The Daily Mirror tabloid reported that employees even bought a drinks fridge for the office and held a kind of happy hour every Friday, even during periods when private parties indoors were banned. According to the paper, Boris attended several of these meetings, encouraging his employees to “go overboard”.
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