A group of senior Conservative MPs have called on the UK prime minister to drop plans to privatise Channel 4.
In a letter to Boris Johnson MPs, including former culture secretary Karen Bradley and ex-cabinet minister Damian Green, argue that far from being a drain on the public purse the broadcaster, which receives no income from the licence fee, is a success story.
“It is self-sufficient and successful, making no drain on the public purse. It also plays a vital role in the broadcasting ecosystem, not least in commissioning programmes from more independent production companies, and more small independent production companies, than any other public service broadcaster. Channel 4’s support for regional SMEs is unique. The channel’s support for these companies through its commissioning targets already goes far further than is required, and further than any other public service broadcaster,” reads a section of the letter.
Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, as well as the former minister Stephen Hammond, and Andy Carter, who was the managing director of radio broadcaster GMG Group are also signatories.
The right-wing Conservative government first announced plans to privatise the 40-year-old broadcaster in July 2021 under then culture secretary Oliver Dowden.
Proponents of a sell-off argue that the streaming giants have changed the broadcast landscape and Channel 4 is prone to political bias
Amid widespread industry opposition, the policy has been continued under Mr Dowden’s successor, Nadine Dorres.
