It's true that the BBC was never an impartial organisation. It has done the state's bidding, and blacklisted radicals, from the beginning. But it never possessed the self-immolatory character it has now. How did it happen? Appeasement.

I worked at the BBC from 1985-87. Last of the glory years. Yes, it was Establishment, but it also had a bold go-get-'em mentality. That's why Thatcher launched her coup against it, from which the BBC has never recovered. It was turned overnight into a cowering shadow of itself.