TWO British institutions which are revered around the world are the NHS and the BBC. 
We can all see the damage being done to the NHS and there is clearly mounting concern and even anger about government policy in this area.
The present government is also intent on reducing the scope and independence of the BBC. An indication of how revered the BBC is internationally is a recent letter to the British press from no fewer than seven directors-general of broadcasting in Nordic countries praising the BBC as the “mother of all public service broadcasting”. 
The letter continues: “The idea of public service broadcasting was born in Britain. Its main pillar is independence and the idea of putting the citizen first.” Praise indeed, and a history to revere and protect.
The government, without any public consultation, has compelled the BBC into paying £650 million per year to meet the cost of providing free licences for the over-75s – something that was previously a welfare benefit, and in 2010, again without any public discussion, the BBC were compelled to pay for the World Service, formerly charged to the Foreign Office, all which, as it is intended to do, further undermines the independence and scope of the BBC.
The government’s intentions are further revealed in the fact that BBC executives have been summoned to appear before parliamentary committees more than once a month and have been “vigorously questioned” on editorial matters – in other words bullying the BBC into falling in line with government policy by influencing the content and presentation of programmes.
The government is intent on diminishing the BBC in part at the urging of Rupert Murdoch, who has close links with David Cameron and the Conservative government, while his main British company, News Corp, has paid little or no tax in this country. 
Please write to your MP demanding that the independence and scope of the BBC is respected and its international status thus retained.
ROGER BARTLETT, JOYCE BRAND, SIR MICHAEL DAY, SIR LESLIE FIELDING, STEVE GRIFFITHS, MARILYN GAUNT, DANIEL McDOWELL, PETER NORMAN, JOHN PERRY, DR NEIL RICHARDSON and SANDY ROBERTSON
Ludlow