British MPs against BBC outsourcing - Question of origin

By Subhankar Kundu @ Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:28 PM

Section - Outsourcing/Outsourcing

Members of parliament (MPs) in Britain are against the idea of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to offshore jobs in Hindi, Urdu and other units to the respective origin countries.

The journalists from the sub-continent (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) along with other units have protested against the notion and a motion was, er moved in the House of Commons by agitated British MPs. Some of them have even demonstrated at the BBC office in London. The National Union of Journalists has also taken up the case.

British MP, George Galloway is deeply concerned about  the BBC’s involvement with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). He feels the move will have to compromise the editorial independence.

Several other MPs supporting the motion said the House is strictly against the outsourcing of BBC World from the UK and the arrangement with the PEMRA that gives a platform to present the contents and programmes in the name of world service.

Among the others that signed the motion are Paul Holmes, Mohammad Sarwar, Dai Davies, Lynne Jones, Ann Cryer and Bob Russell. X