The former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has blasted the government’s plans to privatise Channel 4, accusing it of being “the opposite of levelling up”.
“Channel 4 is publicly owned, not publicly funded. It doesn’t cost the tax payer a penny,” Ruth Davidson said via Twitter today.
“It also, by charter, commissions content but doesn’t make/own its own. It’s one of the reasons we have such a thriving indy sector in places like Glasgow.
“This is the opposite of levelling up.”
Former first secretary of state Damian Green also hit out at the move, tweeting: “The sale of Channel 4 is politicians and civil servants thinking they know more about how to run a business than the people who run it.
“Very unconservative. Mrs Thatcher, who created it, never made that mistake,” he went on.
Meanwhile Darwin Friend, policy analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, praised the decision, arguing that: “It’s about time that Channel 4 was expected to stand on its own two feet.
“Selling it off will benefit not just viewers but the broadcaster itself, which can become a truly independent and competitive station.
“The channel is already operating on its own agenda, so it’s logical to go one step further and lift the remaining liability on taxpayers.”
Liberal Democrat digital, culture, media and sport spokesperson Jamie Stone added to the criticism of the decision, saying last night: “Yet again, the Conservatives have shown they care more about lining the pockets of the super rich than supporting a great public institution.
“Even Margaret Thatcher understood the huge power of Channel 4 as a force for creativity and innovation that belonged to all of us without costing taxpayers a penny.
“Occasionally, we as a country manage to magic up a world-renowned gem into being and Channel 4 is a perfect example. And yet this Government seems hellbent on trashing this uniquely British legacy and undermining jobs and investment in the creative sector.
“The Liberal Democrats will oppose these dangerous plans in Parliament and stand up for the quality and independence of British broadcasting.”
