Anger as BBC World Service to cut five language services

THE British government was warned it risked damaging Britain’s reputation across the world after funding cuts were blamed for the loss of 650 jobs and the closure of five language services at the BBC World Service.

The news sparked anger from opposition politicians and unions and led to warnings of possible industrial action.

The BBC blamed changes to the funding of the World Service, which will be paid for by the licence fee from 2014 rather than government, and made it clear that the BBC had made a strong case against the cuts.