The government has resisted calls in the House of Lords for a vote to be held on its controversial white paper on the future of the BBC when it is published on Thursday.
Former Tory party chairman Norman Fowler and Labour peer Waheed Alli, one of the brains behind Channel 4’s Big Breakfast, were among those calling for a vote on the government’s proposals for the corporation.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, the parliamentary under secretary of state for culture, said there were no plans for a vote although the plans would be debated in both houses of parliament.
Lady Neville-Rolfe was given the backing of another Tory peer, former BBC chairman Michael Grade, who said a vote would be unprecedented and a threat to the BBC’s independence.
“I wonder if my noble friend shares my confusion,” said Lord Grade. “There are many people who support the editorial independence of the BBC and yet at the same time they wish to see votes in parliament on the future of the BBC.
“I think those two things are entirely incompatible. One of the underpinnings of the independence of the BBC is there is never a vote on the BBC in either house.”
Lord Fowler said it was important that parliament was given “not only the opportunity to debate [the government’s proposals] but also to vote on them rather than the decision being left solely with government ministers”. Lord Alli added that the government had “24 hours to think about it”.
The two peers, along with the Liberal Democrat Anthony Lester, will table a private members bill in the House of Lords next month if their concerns over the white paper are not met.
Neville-Rolfe said: “We will certainly debate it. I think the precise arrangements are a matter for the usual channels.” She said ensuring the independence of the BBC was “close to our hearts”.
Labour peer Ray Collins said: “The pre-briefing over the last weeks has been extremely unhelpful. It makes me wonder whether the strategy is to make it sound so awful that the not so bad outcome sounds acceptable.”
