TUC backs BBC

The BBC plays a 'vital role' in children's TV

The TUC has hailed the "essential role" played by the BBC in British society.

During a debate on the last day of the TUC annual conference in Brighton, delegates backed a motion urging that the licence fee be retained and the BBC Charter renewed.

Bectu boss Roger Bolton praised the quality of the corporation's various outlets, including BBC News Online.

And NUJ boss Jeremy Dear questioned the motivation of the BBC's detractors, stressing: "Whose interests do they serve? Yours or their own political and commercial interests?"

The motion, which described the BBC as "an irreplaceable pillar of public service broadcasting", was debated at the conference on Thursday.

It said the corporation "plays a vital role" by commissioning supporting literary and artistic works and performances, including drama, entertainment, music and children's programmes.

It also recognised the contribution the organisation made to training.

Concern

Delegates warned that the corporation must continue to be committed to public service broadcasting and that was "the only justification for the BBC's privileged status".

The motion - which was passed with a show of hands - expressed "alarm" that the BBC board of governors lacked a trade union representative and urged the authorities to "remedy this omission as soon as possible".

"Congress considers that the BBC board of governors should be genuinely representative of licence payers and other interested groups," they argued.

In an amendment to the motion, delegates expressed concern about the "sacking of two BBC employees".

"Congress is also alarmed by the peremptory sackings of two BBC Arabic journalists in breach of agreed procedures and calls on the BBC to accept an independent inquiry into racism," the amendment said.