BBC to axe stations and slash spending

THE BBC is to close radio stations, slash spending on its website and cap other parts of its budget.

The BBC’s announcement yesterday comes as a British general election looms and follows an increasingly public spat between the group, some rivals and MPs who accuse the broadcaster of unnecessary expansion at a time when commercial firms are struggling in the downturn.

The corporation’s director general Mark Thompson said he would recommend halving the number of sections on the website and spending 25% less on the site per year by 2013.