The BBC may not exist in a decade’s time, the new Culture Secretary has suggested as she took aim at its “elitist” approach and “lack of impartiality”.

Nadine Dorries insisted she did not want a “war” with the broadcaster but suggested it would have to set out how it will change before the next licence fee settlement, which covers the five years from April 2022.

At a Conservative Party conference fringe event she admitted “I don’t know” if the broadcaster will even survive in ten years’ time in the face of competition from new players such as Netflix.