Using the UK’s defence budget to support the BBC World Service could undermine its journalism by aligning it too closely with the government’s security objectives, a former head of the service has cautioned.
CuriosityNews reported last week that senior BBC officials are urging ministers to expand the service’s funding by drawing on sources outside the Foreign Office, which has historically supported its international operations.
As China and Russia invest heavily in overseas media to bolster their global influence, BBC leaders argue that the World Service has a key role in challenging false narratives and reinforcing support for democratic principles.
However, Liliane Landor, who led the World Service until last year, voiced concerns about framing its work as advancing government defence goals.
“I cannot support the BBC’s decision to take this path,” she said on the Beeb Watch podcast. “Journalism must not be tied to—or serve—defence objectives. Even soft power can raise concerns, despite my past support for it.
“We as journalists understand that our duty is to seek the truth, preserve editorial independence, and scrutinise authority, no matter how difficult the consequences.”
Mary Hockaday, the service’s head until 2021, stated that regardless of government financing, “the principles of independence and editorial freedom must remain inviolable.”
“Defence is a complicated term,” she added. “Security is a more defensible topic, given that the BBC’s efforts against disinformation do have relevance to it.
“Pragmatism is necessary when considering funding sources, and these discussions are worth having. But any decisions must ensure safeguards are in place to protect editorial independence.”
CuriosityNews disclosed in May that the government had requested the BBC to propose budgets up to £70m below what the service considers necessary, partly due to Keir Starmer’s reduction of foreign aid spending.
Jonathan Munro, the World Service’s director, mentioned at a Labour conference event last week that he hoped to “distribute the financial responsibility” across different government departments. Currently, the Foreign Office provides roughly a third of the service’s £400m budget.
The effort to secure more funding comes amid rising global tensions. The BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, has outlined ambitions to significantly expand its audience reach.
This follows the Trump administration’s move to slash funding for Voice of America, the US broadcaster with a comparable role in countering Chinese and Russian media influence.
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