Who really did the licence fee deal ? John Whittingdale was brought back into the DCMS in February 2020, and records meetings with the BBC on 12th April, 25th May, 14th June, 28th June. On 22nd July, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden issued his initial determination on the deal, which included the two year freeze, followed by a four-year CPI rise. That determination was also stronger on asking the BBC to maintain current levels of licence fee funding for the World Service, and planned to continue slicing £15m p.a. from the licence fee for 'contestable funding'. Nadine Dorries has eased up on both of these.
Mr Whittingdale had a last formal meeting with the BBC on 9th September, before leaving the DCMS on 16th September. Meanwhile, Good Time Johnnie had enjoyed his eight-month stint as a Culture minister:
2 x Royal Enclosure badges and lunch, Ascot
2 x Royal Box seats Wembley, England v Czechoslovakia
2 x tickets and lunch, Wimbledon
2 x tickets, Euro 2020 final
2 x tickets and lunch, Newbury
2 x VIP tickets and lunch, Silverstone
Plus lunches with Times Newspapers executive Martin Ivens, and boutique PR firm Sanctuary Counsel, and dinner for two at The Hippodrome (where Magic Mike Live ! was being staged)
One other furrow ploughed by John in meetings was possible C4 privatisation. In August, he met with former C4 chairman Michael Bishop, now Lord Glendonbrook, accompanied by former Big Brother contestant, Derek Laud, who unsuccessfully contested West Witney for the LibDems in 2019. Lord Glendonbrook's country home is Bruern Abbey.
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