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Tag: Chris Matheson

  • Chris Matheson – 2021 Comments on Boris Johnson’s Remarks About Journalists

    Chris Matheson – 2021 Comments on Boris Johnson’s Remarks About Journalists

    The comments made by Chris Matheson, the Shadow Media Minister, on 23 February 2021.

    For Boris Johnson to say journalists are ‘always abusing people’ probably says more about his own career.

    It is particularly troubling coming so soon after the Prime Minister stood by one of his ministers who attacked a journalist who was just trying to do her job.

    We know from Donald Trump that these kind of assaults on the free press are dangerous and designed to stir up distrust and division.

    Boris Johnson should withdraw these remarks and apologise.

  • Chris Matheson – 2020 Comments on Amal Clooney Resignation

    Chris Matheson – 2020 Comments on Amal Clooney Resignation

    The comments made by Chris Matheson, the Shadow Media Minister, on 18 September 2020.

    It is humiliating that the UK’s special envoy on media freedom has felt unable to continue in her role.

    This shows that by threatening to break international law instead of getting Brexit done as we were promised, the Government is trashing the UK’s reputation around the world.

  • Chris Matheson – 2020 Comments on BBC Regional Cuts

    Chris Matheson – 2020 Comments on BBC Regional Cuts

    Below is the text of the comments made by Chris Matheson, the Shadow Minister for the Media, on 2 July 2020.

    While not unexpected, these cuts are still very damaging and unwelcome. Regional news is among the most trusted with some of the highest viewing and listening figures.

    Regional investigative journalism, such as Inside Out, have been ground breaking over the last two decades and served a need that cannot be met nationally.

    Although some of these cuts have are caused by the Covid-19 pandemic affecting production, the root cause remains the government’s decision to slash BBC funding. We’ve seen £800 million lost so far in this charter period, not to mention the Tories’ broken promise on the over-75s’ free TV licence, where the cost of £250 million was passed to the BBC.

    Ministers need to take responsibility and stop hiding behind the BBC management – the government caused these cuts, they should stand up and be counted.