A senior Conservative MP has suggested that the government’s move to privatise Channel 4 was done in “revenge” for the station’s “biased” coverage of Brexit.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Knight said: “Is this being done for revenge for Channel 4’s biased coverage of the likes of Brexit and personal attacks on the PM?
“Undoubtedly, across much of the party – there is a feeling of payback time and the word privatisation tickles the ivories of many.”
However Mr Knight said he would support the Media Bill as a way of reforming public service broadcasting – saying Channel 4 “will have greater freedom to compete once privatised and if managed well”.
The government is facing a growing backlash from Conservatives MPs over the plan, announced by Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, last night.
Meanwhile, Labour has stretched its lead over the Tories to seven points, according to a new poll. Savanta ComRes has the opposition on 40 per cent (+1) versus the Conservatives 33 per cent (-2).
The polling company surveyed 2,220 people between 1 and 3 April.
