Newish British PM Rishi Sunak is positioning himself as Captain Smart, producing a want listing of priorities to get the nation again on its ft (he hopes.)
One of many least wise notions of the earlier Tory authorities and its cartoonish tradition secretary Nadine Dorries was privatising terrestrial TV’s Channel 4, one which doesn’t do any hurt (though it tries on occasion) and prices the taxpayer nothing (in contrast to many elements of post-Brexit Britain.)
A leaked letter from her successor Michelle Donelan (above) says: “pursuing a sale at this level just isn’t the appropriate determination.” Her DCMS, caught on the hop it appears, says: “The DCMS Secretary of State has been clear that we’re wanting once more on the enterprise case for the sale of Channel 4. We’ll announce extra on our plans sooner or later.”
Dorries, predictably, has attacked the choice.
Privatising C4, which supplies advertisers with a helpful choice, would, in follow, have meant its sale to a US-based media proprietor or non-public fairness, neither of which might have made the channel higher. Dorries mentioned it wanted new financing to compete with the large Hollywood streamers, seemingly oblivious to the truth that most of them are shedding cash hand over fist and any such try by a privatised C4 would have led to its speedy demise.
Some time again we prompt that the appropriate authorities coverage right here was one in every of “masterly inactivity.” Mercifully they appear to have adopted it.
