SNP insiders were quick to point out yesterday that while they’ve had their difficulties with the BBC in recent years, they’ve never felt the need to go to “war” with the corporation. But that was the metaphor used by a source close to Jackson Carlaw. War. What does that mean?

Will we see hundreds of Tory activists gathered outside Pacific Quay in the way that hundreds of Yes supporters protested about the corporation’s coverage of the referendum in the summer of 2014? Or will it more be like the Vanguard Bears who turned up to protest the BBC’s coverage of Rangers last year?

A demo seems unlikely for the Tories regardless of the strict rules around social distancing.

Some sources at the BBC – though not everyone I spoke to – suggested this new Tory war with the state broadcaster had more to do with Dominic Cummings than Jackson Carlaw. Back in February, the Sunday Times were reporting that the Government was considering a “massive pruning back” of the broadcaster’s activities.

A senior source told the paper that Boris Johnson was “really strident” on the need for serious reform.

READ MORE: BBC Scotland hits back in SNP bias 'war' with Scottish Tories

The paper said that there would be a consultation on the licence fee, that the number of BBC television channels could also be reduced, the website scaled back, radio stations sold off and stars banned from cashing in on well-paid second jobs.

The Government is already consulting on proposals to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee – a move the BBC say would cost them more than £1 billion over five years and “inevitably require significant cuts”.

Ministers have suggested it could be abolished altogether when the BBC’s charter comes up for renewal in 2027.

The Sunday Times quoted one source as saying: “We are not bluffing on the licence fee. We are having a consultation and we will whack it. It has got to be a subscription model. They’ve got hundreds of radio stations, they’ve got all these TV stations and a massive website. The whole thing needs massive pruning back.

“They should have a few TV stations, a couple of radio stations and massively curtailed online presence and put more money and effort into the World Service which is part of its core job. The PM is firmly of the view that there needs to be serious reform. He is really strident on this.”

This attack was seen as an escalation of the hostilities between Number 10 and the corporation.

The Tories were furious with the BBC’s coverage of last year’s General Election.

In fact Matt Hancock’s appearance on Radio 4’s Today programme on March 3 to the discuss the coronavirus crisis was the first time a minister had appeared in months.

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