Kaufman attacks BBC

Kaufman: BBC funding "requires a completely fresh look"

Gerald Kaufman MP has called for the BBC licence fee to be abolished and for far-reaching changes in the way the Corporation is managed.

Writing in The Times, the chairman of the Culture Select Committee said it was "essential to find a new structure and funding" between now and 2006 - when the current licence fee agreement comes up for renewal.

Mr Kaufman has long been an outspoken critic of aspects of BBC policy and structure.

Almost as many pay subscriptions as watch the BBC

Gerald Kaufman MP

His comments come days after BBC Director-General Greg Dyke and Chairman Gavyn Davies appeared before the committee at the House of Commons.

Mr Kaufman criticised Mr Dyke and Mr Davies for "failing to demonstrate that they were excitingly dynamic" and for their faith in what he called "the BBC's obsolescent and inefficient form of governance".

The MP for Manchester Gorton is known to be critical of the BBC's independence from broadcasting's watchdogs and standards bodies.

He called for the present system, where the BBC management is responsible to its Board of Governors, to be replaced by a structure of "an executive chairman with a chief executive and a hands-on board of directors".

Dyke: Addressed culture select committee

Mr Kaufman also called for the replacement of the licence fee which, he says, is no longer appropriate for the multi-channel media environment.

"It is a fact that already almost as many pay subscriptions as watch the BBC."

"It requires a completely fresh look at the funding mechanism," he said.

And he warned: "If the government can not or does not think deeply about these matters, the argument for privatisation will become unanswerable."

A BBC spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "It's up to us to provide great programmes and services so that people value the BBC beyond 2006."

'Sensible discussion'

She added that Mr Kaufman's criticisms were not necessarily representative of opinion on the culture select committee.

"Gerald Kaufman's comments don't reflect the tone of the Select Committee hearing at all, where there was a sensible discussion of the issues facing the BBC.

"Many committee members clearly complimented the BBC on its programmes and understood the importance of a publicly-funded BBC to their constituents."

The spokeswoman also rejected the accusation of a lack of dynamism in BBC management.

"Five new radio services, four new television services, Britain's leading information online site, and the most advanced interactive service with Wimbledon and Walking With Beasts - if that's not dynamic, what is?" she said.