Scots think BBC should be independent from government, survey shows

The majority of Scottish respondents think it is important for the BBC to be independent from the government of the day, according to the corporation’s biggest ever listening exercise.

The Our BBC, Our Future questionnaire launched in March this year and received 872,701 responses, with 64,246 respondents in Scotland.

In Scotland, 83% of respondents said it is important that the BBC’s core mission to inform, educate and entertain continues.

A majority of respondents, 91%, said it is important to be independent from the government of the day.

However, 42% said the BBC is ineffective at being independent from the government of the day.

The highest statistic in the country was that 93% said it is important the BBC seeks to pursue truth with no agenda and 85% said it is important that the corporation backs the best homegrown storytelling.

Hayley Valentine, director BBC Scotland, said the feedback would “help shape the future of the BBC in Scotland”.

She said: “We appreciate people in Scotland taking the time to complete this questionnaire, which is an important part of our Charter Review process.

“Our audiences have been very clear that they support the BBC’s role to inform, educate and entertain, whilst also telling us that an independent BBC, which reflects their lives, is of utmost importance to them.

“This feedback is critical in helping us shape the future of the BBC in Scotland.”

The BBC says it is now going through the findings in detail and they will form part of discussions with the Government, which has begun the process of reviewing the BBC’s Royal Charter.

The current charter expires at the end of 2027 and the Government is expected to shortly publish a Green Paper and launch a consultation with the public on the future of the BBC.