The British Government may be considering a plan to break up the
BBC and remove its independent status as the fallout from the Hutton Enquiry continues.

Leaked Government papers detailing possible changes to the BBC’s 82 year old structure propose to
break the Corporation into separate regional entities for England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland, according to a Sunday Times report.

The documents also suggest that the job of ensuring the BBC’s impartiality might
be taken away from the corporation’s board of governors.

Plans apparently being considered include giving a government media watchdog greater
control over the BBC’s output, closing BBC outlets which are not considered
“public service”, and forcing the corporation to share some of its licence
fee revenue with other broadcasters.

The plan, if it were to be seriously pursued, would cause outcry from the public who still value the BBC’s independence.