Whatever we may think of the BBC, there is no doubt that if its funding is sabotaged, as Blair and his friend Rupert Murdoch would like, broadcasting in this country will suffer a body blow in terms of quality and diversity. I forward here a letter from Anna Wagstaff, secretary of Oxford NUJ branch inviting us to a lobby of Parliament on Wednesday:

"Oxford NUJ branch is organising an 18-seater minibus to take members to the National Parliamentary Lobby to defend the future of the BBC on Wednesday May 19th. Please try to come and lobby your MP, or get friends, colleagues, family to come if you possibly can.

The BBC's funding is under severe threat. Whatever its shortcomings may be, the service provided by the BBC is a great deal better than anything that could possibly be expected under any of the alternative funding mechanisms currently being touted around. Worse still, the standards of news, current affairs and other public service broadcasting provided by the commercial channels will plummet if they no longer have to compete with a well funded and independent BBC.

We hope that members, friends, contacts, and family from as many Parliamentary constituencies in the area as possible, will come along and lobby their MPs and join the rally which will be held in one of the Westminster Committee Rooms.

The minibus will leave at around 10.00am and return by 6.00pm. Depending on who can come, it may pick up from more than one point. Please make every effort to come and encourage others to do so. Please let me know by the end of next week if possible, if you are planning to come, so I can let you know how to inform your MP and give you travel details. You can reach me at  oxnuj@aol.com or you can contact the branch chair, Peter Cann on 01865 425484 day time or 01865 773158 evenings.

Many thanks
Anna Wagstaff
Secretary Oxford NUJ branch"