One of my friends, Eddie Howson kindly promoted this important Petition late last night. It is a Change.Org petition that had over 200,000 signatures when I spotted it this morning. It is a very clear challenge to the rather inept and very dangerous Nadine Dorries who is seeking to hand Channel 4 over to private people who will then use the opportunity to make money. We clearly need Channel 4 to remain as a public agency that can use its setting to display the activities of the Government and indeed many other agencies in our Nation. The person who set out this petition is E.L McNally and her statement is below. It would be fantastic if you would be willing to sign her petition so that we can get it to at least a Million signatures. My comment on the petition is

The rather dangerous and inept Nadine Dorries will use this to both close down the challenge to her Government and deliver a Television industry to people who fund her Politician chums

One of her inept examples was when she was speaking to a Committee of MPs including members of her own political group back in November. She claimed that the public sector was funding Channel 4 and one of her colleagues pointed out that this was not the case which she seemed rather unaware of. So here is the text from E.L McNally

I am appalled at the Government’s intention to privatise Channel 4.

Channel 4 is responsible for some of the very best programming on UK TV. Channel 4 News is one of the most trusted news programmes at a time when disinformation is rife.

There are very few places where we can trust in the integrity of those producing news and content. There are very few places we can trust in the honest intention to serve diverse communities. The mono culture that is sure to be the result of such a move would be seriously undermining of the health and creativity of UK TV programming.

To privatise Channel 4 would seriously undermine programming aimed at all the communities, across generations, that make up this country.

The government has no right to move ahead with a plan that is not in the interest of the viewing public.

I hope we can all come together to protect the independence of this beloved, trusted and much needed channel. 

Channel 4 is an invaluable part of UK media.