Royal Navy: MP believes £100m spent on F-35 fighter jets for HMS Queen Elizabeth should go to BBC instead

Peter Prinsley, MP for Bury St Edmonds and Stowmarket, described the BBC as a “vital UK soft power” in the House of Commons today (October 22). He urged the Government to acquire 73 jets - used alongside aircraft carriers HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth - instead of 74, to better fund the broadcaster.

Earlier this year, the previous Conservative government said it was in negotiations to increase the number of F35 fighter jets by 2033. Meanwhile, the Labour Government is currently conducting a strategic defence review (SDR).

During Foreign Office questions, the MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket said: “The BBC World Service is vital UK soft power. The contribution from the Foreign Office to the funding of this is about £100 million per year, about the cost of an F35 fighter jet. (The) UK has plans to acquire 74 of these fighter jets, would the minister agree with me that we might consider acquiring only 73 of these jets, if this was the price of preserving the BBC World Service?”

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer replied: “It’s £104 million that we provide to the BBC World Service, it’s very good value indeed. I will not seek to get into Budget negotiations in advance of the Budget, because I know better than that.”

Later in the session, shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell also raised concerns around funding for the BBC World Service as he voiced his dismay at the cancellation of the programme HARDtalk. He said: “Does she share my dismay that while the director general of the BBC professes the BBC presents a key source of democratic soft power, in the face of the spread of state and non-state disinformation they are now intending to cancel internationally-admire interview programme HARDtalk, which has a global reputation holding those in power to account?”

Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds replied: “Any editorial decisions on BBC content will be ones made by the BBC alone, that’s quite right and proper. But all I can say, is wherever I have been in the world, it is very clear quite how powerful the BBC is. A soft power perhaps, but a very important reflection of our values as a country of connection, deep connections between the people of Britain and other nations. We’re determined to ensure that that remains the case.”

F-35 fighter jets have been deployed in extensive circumstances alongside HMS Prince of Wales during Exercise Strike Warrior in the North Sea. The 65,000 tonne warship is taking charge of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), ahead of a major deployment to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region next year.