Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has launched a mid-term charter review of the BBC which will “consider if reforms are needed to help it achieve greater impartiality and build a more diverse workforce”.
The terms of reference of the review, set to be published on Thursday, show it will focus on the BBC’s editorial standards and whether it is “delivering for licence fee payers”.
Ms Dorries also issued a legal direction to the BBC to “promote equality of opportunity” for people from working class backgrounds. This includes a target for 25 per cent of staff to be from low socio-economic backgrounds.
The culture minister said: “The BBC is a world-class broadcaster but one which has to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape just like all broadcasters are.
“The Government is committed to ensuring the BBC is more impartial, more accessible and more reflective of our country’s variety of viewpoints.
“This review will build on our recent progress to make the BBC more accountable to those who fund it, level up people’s access to the job opportunities it offers and ensure it continues to work in the best interest of the public.”
Earlier this week, a government source told The Times that the review would also assess whether the BBC is compliant with “editorial standards, including impartiality requirements”. Tory MPs have claimed, without evidence, that the broadcaster’s political coverage has been tainted by left-wing bias.
Ms Dorries has questioned the long-term viability of the licence fee and previously called for it to axed.
However, she backtracked earlier this year and instead chose to freeze the fee at £159 for two years.
The BBC's chairman said the corporation welcomed and would "engage fully and constructively" with the mid-term review.
Richard Sharp said: "The mid-term review is built into our Charter. We welcome it and we will engage fully and constructively. We look forward to working with Government and Ofcom."
