BBC radio cuts 'an attack on regions,' says MacShane

ROTHERHAM MP Denis MacShane has lashed out at BBC plans to “give up England” in favour of Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish broadcasting services.

BBC local television and radio stations were told to expect drastic staff cuts in proposals announced by corporation bosses last month in a policy review called Delivering Quality First.

The plans will see more programming produced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while English local radio stations will be forced to share programming across regions.

Dr MacShane condemned the changes—imposed to meet a £144 million budget shortfall after bosses chose not to increase license fees this year—as an “attack on the English regions.”

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He said: “Yorkshire alone has more inhabitants than any of the three UK nations, but now Yorkshire has been told it must see BBC offices shut to the public and local radio stations must accept a generalised, pappy regional service save for a spurt of local news at drive times.”

Planned changes to BBC Radio Sheffield include a drop in locally-produced content from 16 to just nine hours per day, meaning the loss of up to eight staff.

Dr MacShane added: “As I knock on doors in my constituency I find people watching Sky or listening to Radio Hallam or Rother FM.

“Why should my very squeezed constituents pay a hefty tax to allow the BBC top men to trouser £800,000 a year plus expenses?

“The BBC elite in London has no understanding that local means local. No-one in Bradford cares what is going on in Scarborough.

“The BBC is pouring salt onto its English grass roots that justify its right to levy a tax on the entire nation.”

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “We understand that people are passionate about their BBC local services and Dr MacShane's concerns are, we know, shared by others.

“The BBC Trust is currently consulting on these proposals and anyone who wishes to have their say can find out more by going to our website.”

Details of the planned changes can be viewed at www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/dqf. Those wishing to join the debate on local BBC broadcasting can do so at www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult.