Government could set up its own TV or radio channel, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb said yesterday.

And the Progressive Labour Party is set to splash the cash with more taxpayer-funded programmes in a bid to bypass the media.

Government -- rapped last week for breaking broadcasting rules on time limits for Government broadcasts -- is also aiming to change the regulations to allow them more access to the airwaves.

But Ms Webb said Government could go even further and set up a "Government information channel'' -- although she declined to be specific on details.

And she drew a parallel with Britain's BBC, which she claimed was used "to put out Government information'' and also insisted it was Government-funded.

But that sparked fury at the London headquarters of the BBC, where a spokesman pointed out the BBC operated under a charter which protected it from Government control.

He said: "We are guaranteed editorial independence under the Royal Charter -- if the Government announces something, we would report it in the same way as any other outlet. In an independent way.

"And if there was criticism, we would report that the same as everyone else.'' The spokesman added that the BBC was not funded by Government, but by a licence fee levied on every television owner.

He said: "The licence fee is set by a Government department -- but that does not affect our independence.'' And Opposition leader Pamela Gordon -- also Shadow Telecommunications Minister -- blasted the suggestion of a state TV station as the first step on the road to dictatorship-style brainwashing of the public.

She said: "It's very close to that -- it's shocking. Any dictatorship where the people are fed what Government wants them to know is wrong.

"Bermuda is far too sophisticated and far too intelligent for this kind of thing to happen.

"I find just the thought of this horrific for Bermuda -- unfortunately, right now the new Government are feeling that they have absolute power.

"We would be very concerned about abuses.'' Ms Gordon pointed out that extra time was available for paid-for party political broadcasts.

Ms Gordon claimed: "What it looks like to me is that they want the taxpayers to pay for their political broadcasts.'' And she questioned the cost to the taxpayer if the PLP were to push ahead with plans for a state-controlled TV channel.

But Ms Gordon said: "She hasn't gone to Parliament to make these statements and I'm certainly hopeful that the information that she has indicated is not the direction the Government is leading towards.'' And she warned: "This should really ring alarm bells as to the direction this Government is going in.'' See also Lister takes on media, Page 2 Gordon slams idea of state-run broadcaster Ms Gordon also warned the PLP Government that any changes they planned to make "to their own advantage'' would still be in place when "inevitably, there is a change of Government''.

But Ms Webb brushed off claims that a Government channel would be little more than an old Soviet Union-style PRAVDA operation.

She said: "People can say whatever they like -- we want information put out, not to curtail information.'' Ms Webb added: "We don't want to be restricted because we want information out to the public.'' She said there were no restrictions on use of newspapers or even the Internet, and questioned why there should be restrictions on TV spots.

Ms Webb added: "We believe that the people should be the centre of the information and Government should be accountable and transparent in the delivery of information and we do use the different media.

"There are a lot of options which one could use, Internet, a Government information channel could be a possibility.'' But she added: "I'm not saying that is the direction we are going to move in.'' Earlier yesterday, Ms Webb told the House of Assembly that the "print media cannot be relied upon to give an objective and thorough view''.

She said: "We believe that Government accountability and transparency is paramount.

"To this end, the Broadcast Commissioners who took on the task of amending the legislation as its first line of duty are in the process of diligently working towards achieving this objective.

"It is my intention to introduce the legislation to this honourable House as soon as possible.'' `What it looks like to me is that they want the taxpayers to pay for their political broadcasts' -- Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon