Petition · Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Make the BBC a fully-mutual body based on licence-fee payers

Open for signatures 39 signatures

What the petition asks

The BBC Charter review must consider the option of creating a fully-mutual BBC based on licence-fee payers (or those excepted by statute), with all non-executive positions elected (by PR) by members at large.
The BBC is intended to be politically neutral but we are concerned that in practice the Government is able to exert political pressure through the Charter Renewal process, the appointment of Board Members, and other forms of suasion.

We think a governance structure which derives its authority direct from licence-fee payers will truly be able to 'speak truth to power' and play a vital function in generating genuine debate in national affairs, in contrast to the monochrome politics of the print media.

Timeline

4 Feb 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 39
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Opened 4 Feb 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.