Iain Dale reveals that Chris Bryant's recently launched campaign to devolve Welsh television (oh, and turn it into a Welsh vs English debate), is funded by the Tax Payer via the Communications Allowance:
Labour MP Chris Bryant and I have crossed swords before, but I want to write this as dispassionately as possible as I think a campaign he is running raises some very interesting issues about the new Communications Allowance. He has written a paper on the future of Broadcasting in Wales, and rather innovatively (for an MP) has created a website to explain his arguments. He is also using MessageSpace to virally market a video he has made to publicise the debate he wants to promote. So far so good, and an entirely laudable thing to do. However, the cost of the advertising campaign (which I believe I am benefitting from, although only readers in Wales see the ad on my blog, he tells me) is being met by the House of Commons Fees Office through either the Incidental Expenses Allowance or the Communications Allowance. Let me be clear. I am not accusing Chris Bryant of doing anything wrong. I have spoken to him this morning and talked it over in a very friendly manner. I congratulated him on being innovative but I did ask him if he felt it was right that this sort of thing was funded by the taxpayer. He admitted it raised some very interesting questions but made very clear that he has put it to the House of Commons Fees Office and they have authorised it. Case closed. Sort of.
The interesting point here is that this campaign is not designed to attract voters in his constituency. Why would he need to do that? He has one of the biggest majorities in Wales. But if, for example, a similar campaign were run by his colleague Phil Hope in the marginal seat of Corby, his Conservative opponent Louise Bagshaw could be forgiven for wondering why the taxpayer should be funding something designed - albeit subliminally - to benefit an incumbent.
I don't think even Chris Bryant would pretend that his campaign won't raise his profile both in Wales and more widely. And why not? He's discussing an issue of importance to Wales, but where does it end? He's not being party political in what he says (althought the website design looks very Labour!), but just by existing, the website and video campaign do benefit him, and through him his Party.
Labourites would be gnashing their teeth had a Plaid MP used his Communications Allowance to launch such a national campaign.
11 opinions:
I've forgotten what he looks like in his pants. Can we please see that again?
Yes you can
Yet the Culture Minister, who is Plaid, agrees with Chris Bryant. S4C should, in the digital age, needs to, and should cater to the whole of Wales, not just the Welsh speaking minority.
Yet the Culture Minister, who is Plaid, agrees with Chris Bryant. S4C should, in the digital age, needs to, and should cater to the whole of Wales, not just the Welsh speaking minority.
Jncorrect. He said it was a possibility. As for being in the digital age, that is precisely the reasion why there is no reason to make S4C digidol a bilingual channel. Either put pressure on BBC Wales to produce more English programmes made in Wales, or create a new channel. But trying to deny Welsh speakers their own channel is just plain churlish.
How many English channels are there, for fuck's sake.
It would still boardcast in Welsh, but also in English, much like the analoge S4C does. Ignoring the challenge of the digital age, and expecting the whole of Wales to pay for a channel that would only cater to a minority is not right and is not fair. Both will lead to serious problems for S4C in the future, it has to move with the times, and boardcast in both languages. Narrow-minded Nationalism will not help S4C.
It would still boardcast in Welsh, but also in English, much like the analoge S4C does.
No need, as I have already stated.
Ignoring the challenge of the digital age
There is no challenge. If anything it makes things easier.
expecting the whole of Wales to pay for a channel that would only cater to a minority is not right and is not fair.
It is right, just as right as expecting Welsh speakers to pay for English TV.
Both will lead to serious problems for S4C in the future
It's managing at the moment, broadxcasting a Welsh only digital channel and a bilingual analogue.
it has to move with the times, and boardcast in both languages.
No. That's called going back in time.
Narrow-minded Nationalism will not help S4C.
And here you reveal the true nature of your bigotry. Welsh only = Nat. It would be sadder were it not so predictable.
To say your argument holds no wonder would be to pay it more credit than it deserves.
FACT: S4C was set up to serve the Welsh speaking community. It only shares a place with C4 on analogue as a compromise. With digital TV that compromise is no longer necessary.
FACT: English speakers already have public broadcasting services. Pretending that S4C owes them an English language service is nothing short of pathetic.
Its about time the Labour Party in Wales sorted out the anti-Welsh bigot brigade in their ranks. They're not doing anyone any favours, least of all themselves.
Bryant talks about not being parochial. What a pillock!
Rhondda deserves better than Bryant. Much better.
Some people don't seem to realise that digital TV is cheaper and easier. If people want Welsh programmes in English, fine, set up a second (or third) S4C channel for English viewers, and give S4C the extra cash to run it.
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