To: The Culture Secretary, U.K.Government

Save Panorama

Please do not allow the B.B.C. to be sold to Rupert Murdoch. He would never allow the likes of 'Panorama' to broadcast programmes showing that statutory authorities are simply failing to inspect properly. The problems in the commercially-run Medway young offenders institute is an example.

Why is this important?

If there is no independent organisation with sufficient resources and confidence to investigate and report on institutions doing work on behalf of the government and, eventually, of the people of this country, then we are one step closer to a totalitarian state. If no-one independent can say that something is wrong, then all we have is the mantra that 'the authorities can do no wrong'.