A BBC source said: “This is about Britain’s place in the world. It is above the politics of the debates about the BBC’s future. Other news outlets are growing globally, and many do not share our traditions and values. The BBC has never been impartial on the importance of democracy and a free press. We have a strong commitment to uphold global democracy though accurate, impartial and independent news. That’s why the BBC World Service is such a trusted and in some cases revered news source. There should no longer be any no-go countries for the World Service – it is Britain’s impartial voice to the world.”

The BBC spent £254m on the World Service last year, 6% of the licence fee. The source said the BBC accepted “that there are limits to how much British households can be expected to fund news for other countries around the world.”