BBC cuts satire against Blair

The BBC said on Tuesday it had cut part of a satirical radio show which called PM Tony Blair a liar, but denied it had been cowed after losing a feud with the government over the Iraq war.

It said it had deleted four lines from an episode of ‘‘Absolute Power’’, a comedy which pokes fun at spin doctors. In one line, a PR man says there is nothing he could ‘‘teach the PM about deception, manipulation and lying — except how to do it properly’’. A BBC spokeswoman said the programme was recorded live in December and that parts would now ‘‘sound a bit odd, knowing the outcome of Lord Hutton’s report’’. It is to be broadcast on Thursday.

Some legislators and analysts voiced fears the BBC would muzzle reporters and writers after Hutton to avoid angering Blair’s government.

The show’s writer, Mark Tavener, said BBC had ‘‘chickened out’’ and that satire was still in. ‘‘They are worried about upsetting the government,’’ he said. ‘‘I was told I couldn’t refer to Blair as a liar because Hutton said he wasn’t — clearly this is nonsense. — (Reuters)