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The BBC has announced that it is cutting more than 150 jobs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\nThe BBC has announced that it is cutting more than 150 jobs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
BBC Scotland will axe 60 staff roles in an attempt to save \u00a36.2m (\u20ac6.8m) by the end of March 2021.<\/p>\n
In Northern Ireland, between 30 and 40 posts are expected to be cut, including via voluntary redundancies, to save \u00a33.6m (\u20ac3.98m) by the same date.<\/p>\n
BBC Cymru Wales is expected to cut 60 staff, approximately 6% of its workforce, by spring 2021, to make savings of \u00a34.5m (\u20ac4.98).<\/p>\n
Director of BBC Scotland Donalda MacKinnon, director of BBC Northern Ireland Peter Johnston and director of BBC Cymru Wales Rhodri Talfan Davies announced the news to their respective teams on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes after outgoing director-general Tony Hall launched a program of voluntary redundancy across the BBC last week.<\/p>\n
The BBC already had an \u00a3800m (\u20ac885m) savings target before the coronavirus pandemic led to an additional \u00a3125m (\u20ac135m) deficit.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the BBC said: \u201cThe impact of the coronavirus pandemic means the BBC needs to make \u00a3125 million of savings this financial year, in addition to the \u00a3800 million efficiency savings the corporation had previously committed to.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe savings are critical to ensuring the long-term future of the BBC and no part of the organisation is immune from making savings.\u201d Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the BBC said it would cut around 450 jobs \u2013 from services including Newsnight and 5Live \u2013 in an attempt to \u201cmodernize its newsroom\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, this was paused in order to keep a continuous news service on air amid the outbreak.<\/p>\n
National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: \u201cThe BBC is at a pivotal point in its history. Already faced with achieving cuts of \u00a3800 million, the additional Covid-19 funding gap of \u00a3125 million will lead to swingeing cuts to jobs, programming and services.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when our public service broadcaster has brilliantly risen to the challenge of a global pandemic, providing vital information and news to communities faced with an unprecedented health crisis, it is now having to pay the cost for that public service by losing experienced talented staff, and curtailing important and valuable news and content.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government should step forward to fill this Covid-19 funding gap, rather than inflict further cuts on an already financially challenged BBC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must then also be a broader debate around the funding of the BBC so that our public service broadcaster can be taken off the critical list with its future health and independence secured.\u201d Paul Siegert, NUJ national broadcasting organizer, said: \u201cThe proposed cuts to the nations and regions are extremely worrying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BBC says it wants to get out of London and better reflect the make up of the UK. These job cuts will make that far harder. It will also mean less scrutiny and holding to account of local politicians and decision makers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the BBC shrinks and reduces news coverage in these areas there is no one else that will be able to step in and fill the void left behind.\u201d <\/p>\n
It comes after more than 20 MPs wrote to the BBC asking the corporation to halt proposed cuts to its English regional television programming.<\/p>\n