© www.bbc.co.ukMP Daniel Kawczynski: "We should celebrate broadcasting diversity."
While the authors spent time criticizing the lack of media freedom inside the country, and emphasizing its Russian service's own success in reaching the local audience, a large part of the testimony focused on the rise of RT. While it points out that RT's television viewing audience rose by 60 percent between June and December last year, it says that on key issues, such as coverage of the Ukrainian conflict, "both politicians and media commentators [are] accusing it of acting as a Kremlin mouthpiece."
In contrast, the BBC says that it "has played a significant role in providing impartial and objective reporting of the Ukraine crisis" and claims it needs an "increased digital presence" in Russia's own language internet, as well as "enhanced news bulletins" and more staff to up its news-gathering capacity. The BBC is facing real-terms cuts after being forced to pay for over-75s TV licenses that form the bulk of its budget, though the government has channeled extra money to fund its World Service programs.
But the Polish-born Daniel Kawczysnki, who has served as an Eastern Europe Special Advisor to the government of David Cameron, believes that the BBC's antagonistic approach to its younger Russian rival is unwarranted. Kawczynski, 44, who has been MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham since 2005, also accuses the corporation, and the government of being "narrow" in their approach to Russia, and advocates greater engagement.
Comment: BBC outlined to Westminster's Foreign Affairs Committee why RT's success should create panic within the UK establishment in challenging the Brit message of "truth and fairness." Part of the problem stems from the BBC towing the Whitehall line on all foreign policy issues and has done this for decades. Examples, as exhibited by its political staff recently: biased coverage of the Scottish Independence debate and blatant hostility to Jeremy Corbyn. To counteract RT, which has a fraction of BBC's operating budget, BBC is once again seeking an increase in funding...as if more money will somehow transform spoon-fed propaganda into truth.