In defence of the BBC: a force for unity in a divided Britain

The BBC is our other national religion and like the NHS it inspires a devotional intensity that can be a little creepy. The disclosure of star salaries over £150,000 certainly brought out the worst in the Corporation’s self-styled defenders. Their argument could have been designed to annoy: market dogmatists wanted to destroy the BBC because it’s too successful, they say. But not so successful that it could survive without the Licence Fee – which by the way isn’t a tax and at £147 is actually great value for money. If anything, we should be grateful the BBC deigns to broadcast to us. Anyway, this was just the wicked press attacking a commercial and political rival, runs their argument – while still dismissing as slander the idea that the BBC involves itself in commerce or politics.

Like the Laodiceans, you must be either hot or cold on the Corporation; ambivalence will not be tolerated.