“The Culture Secretary’s hapless performance today on the future of the BBC had more holes than the cheese served at the Prime Minister’s lockdown breaking parties.

“It is clear that the Conservative Party’s vendetta against the BBC threatens local news services, jobs, the prosperity of our creative industries and a great British treasure that is the envy of the world.

“Nadine Dorries has made it clear she is ending BBC funding as we know it yet she offered not a single possible alternative. She is more interested in saving the Prime Minister’s skin after his lies and disintegrating leadership, rather than respecting a great British institution and securing its future.”