The Conservative Government’s pushing ahead with plans to privatise Channel 4 is an absolute disgrace. 

When bills are soaring and prices rising in this Tory-made cost of living crisis, the public are left wondering how this move will help pay their bills. The UK Government should have a laser-like focus on tackling the crisis and shielding struggling families. Instead it seems hellbent on dismantling our cultural structures and damaging what works exceptionally well. And for what? Ideology? Spite because Channel 4 aired programmes which weren’t exactly flattering for Johnson and his family?

As it stands, Channel 4 doesn’t cost the taxpayer a penny. Selling it wouldn’t save taxpayer money. It is not-for-profit and any profit is reinvested into British programmes, supporting independent production companies and new talent. The reality of this decision is that it will cost jobs and opportunities across the country, will hit the wider British creative economy and cuts across the government’s levelling up agenda. 

And the sheer scale of the opposition to this move says it all. Labour opposes it. The Tories’ own MPs oppose it and many in the industry have called on the government to reconsider.

Labour will continue to fight this extraordinary decision to sell Channel 4. To add your voice in opposition to this, please sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-privatisation-of-channel-4-nadinedorries