It's 2012

The coalition government has collapsed as predicted and just before the Olympic Games commences, a snap general election is called.

This is won narrowly by the Labour party led by David Milliband who won the Labour leadership challenge two years previously. He reiterates his pre-election promises regarding the BBC:

“The mutual principle could play a role in strengthening the democratic accountability of the BBC, as one of most treasured and important public institutions"

“Owned by the British public and paid for directly through each household’s TV licence, it is only right that ordinary members of the public should have a real say in how it is run”.

"Under a mutual model, membership of the BBC could be open to everyone who pays the licence fee. Members could have the right to elect representatives to a Member’s Council that would elect a majority of members of the BBC Trust. This would give licence fee payers a way to democratic voice in the priorities of the BBC.

"Greater public engagement with members could also take place via the website, to ensure the BBC was providing responsive services. With those running the BBC directly accountable to their members, they would have a clear mandate to canvas license fee payers on all major policy decisions.”

After 2 months of public consultation, the new Labour government reported that they were inundated with suggestions of:

abolishing the license fee

and...

can the BBC cover EU issues with more partiality.

David Miliband responded:

"We understand that so many of you feel jaded and sceptical about the BBC and its coverage of the EU. We appreciate that there's a profound disconnection between the British people and what is reported in their name by the BBC. We want to deal with this."

Ministers subsequently reject every public suggestions for change to the BBC.