Bectu: BBC News job cuts will harm pubcaster’s ability to provide ‘valued analysis’

UK film and TV union Bectu has criticised the round of job cuts announced at BBC News earlier this week, saying it will not only harm the people losing their jobs but also the “valued analysis” the UK pubcaster provides.

Philippa Childs

The latest job cuts will see a net loss of 155 roles at BBC News, which it said will save £24m (US$31.2m). Global interview programme Hard Talk is one of the programmes being axed as a result.

The cuts form part of a wider plan to eliminate 500 roles at the broadcaster by March 2026, in an effort to save £700m a year across the whole corporation.

Bectu’s head, Philippa Childs, said the latest announcement was “very disappointing for everyone impacted,” blaming it on the lower licence fee settlement making it difficult for the BBC to make the savings it needs to achieve.

“The BBC’s need to make savings is clear, but this latest round of cuts follows a worrying trend towards reducing services that provide critical, in-depth analysis,” she said.

“Central tenets of the BBC’s mission are to inform and educate; Bectu is concerned that in a world of fake news, disinformation and political turmoil, these cuts will hit not just jobs, but also reduce the breadth and range of news content that the BBC can provide and is known for.

“We will do everything we can to support our members affected and will fully engage with the BBC on the proposals. We will continue to push for headcount reductions to be achieved through voluntary means, while seeking to ensure workloads are manageable for those remaining.”