BBC AND THE GOVERNMENT

That this House is deeply saddened that a Labour Government has brought the BBC, one of the greatest broadcasting organisations in the world, to its knees on the basis of a report from a retiring judge; believes that the independence and integrity of investigative journalism and news broadcasting by the BBC is now inevitably threatened; does not believe that one mistake by a reporter warranted the ballistic response of Government Ministers, spin doctors and civil servants; and calls on the new Chairman and Director General of the BBC to live up to the high standards set by Mr Gavyn Davies and Mr Greg Dyke.