Tag: Stephanie Peacock

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth, on 29 October 2025.

It is an honour to represent the United Kingdom here today, and it has been a privilege to experience the diversity and dynamism of South African culture first hand over the past few days, since I arrived here on Sunday.

It was a pleasure to accompany you, Honourable Minister McKenzie, to the powerful performance of ‘This Is Who I Am’ in Johannesburg earlier this week – an extraordinary example of international cultural collaboration in action, supported by the British High Commission.

The UK is committed to effective and ambitious multilateralism, and we are grateful to you for convening us to discuss pressing matters affecting the cultural and creative sectors, as well as the great opportunities.

I would like to thank the South African Presidency, on behalf of the United Kingdom, for your leadership, ambition, and wonderful hospitality throughout this year’s G20 Culture Track.

The musical and artistic performances we have all enjoyed here highlight culture’s power to unite and connect communities. 

In the UK, we, too, see how the huge diversity of cultural heritage contributes to our national story. Which is why we are pleased to have ratified the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage last year and warmly welcome our hosts, South Africa, who joined this year.

The British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme alone has undertaken 130 projects across Africa and we commend South Africa for shining a light on the role of museums and cultural institutions as custodians of heritage in this declaration. 

Honourable Minister, you have rightly placed a strong emphasis in the declaration from this meeting on the creative economy. 

In the UK we also recognise the importance of these sectors and we have launched a dedicated plan to tackle barriers to growth and maximise opportunities across the creative industries. 

Improving cultural access is another key priority for the UK Government. We strongly believe that arts and culture should reach everyone, everywhere.

This includes supporting our creative and cultural professionals to operate and tour internationally.

We recognise that the arts and cultural sectors, and creative industries can be critical drivers of innovation, not simply consumers of it.

The use of digital technologies in these areas offers extraordinary opportunities to expand access, participation and inclusion.

But we must acknowledge that digital transition and Artificial Intelligence are reshaping how culture is created, shared and valued.

This is why the UK is committed to international partnership to shape a digital ecosystem for culture that is inclusive, resilient and sustainable – whether through the G20, UNESCO, bilateral agreements, or the work of the British Council.

The UK is working to safeguard cultural heritage at risk, while advancing innovative, culture-based solutions to the climate crisis at home and around the world through our international programmes.

Our International Cultural Heritage Protection programme operates globally, in cooperation with the British Council.

One recent project – delivered in partnership with organisations across Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Jordan – has  protected six historically important sites impacted by climate change and enabled them to be safeguarded for future generations.

As G20 members, we individually and collectively recognise our responsibility to use our influence and voices to champion culture’s role in driving climate action.

The Declaration we will shortly adopt is testament to the immense value we place on culture, cultural heritage and creativity and its important role in driving sustainable development.

I would like to thank all members of the working group for all their exceptionally hard work on the text. 

The Declaration sends a powerful message to the world about the role culture can play in transforming all our lives – for the better. The UK is proud to endorse it.

Thank you.

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Sports Minister, at The Institution of Structural Engineers, Bastwick Street in London on 24 April 2025.

Thank you all for being here and inviting me to speak to you today. I am sorry I can’t be with you in person.

I want to talk to you today about the remarkable growth of women’s sport that we have witnessed in recent years, and what the Government is doing to build on this momentum.

I would like to begin by sharing some statistics. In 2024, UK Women’s Sport attracted audiences of over 44.17 million, an increase of nearly 40% in just two years. Over 2.6 million people attended a women’s sport event in person in 2023, an increase of 23% from the previous year.

Globally, Deloitte predicts that revenue generated by women’s elite sports will reach at least $2.35 billion, or £1.8 billion, in 2025, with revenues predicted to have risen by 240% in 4 years.

This is, of course, good news for economic growth and for those playing women’s elite sport. But most importantly the impact that it will have on women and girls across the country will be profound.

Inspiring women and girls across the country to take part in sport is hugely important to me as Sports Minister.

Girls need to know from a young age that they belong in sport.  That is why we want to review and shape our education system to inspire girls from an early age to get active and build a lifelong love and affinity for sport.

To achieve this goal, Government is driving progress across women’s sport: from investing in grassroots facilities to supporting national campaigns.

It also means action on the elite end of sport, from hosting major events to supporting action to professionalise women’s sport.

Bringing all of these elements together is our strategy for women and girl’s sport. Let me take you through each of those in turn.

Firstly, we want more women and girls than ever to stay physically and mentally fit and healthy.

In order to do this, we need to keep evolving and challenging the way we think of women in sporting environments in order to understand what challenges and motivates them.

Sport England campaigns like This Girl Can has inspired nearly 4 million women to get active and 8 out of 10 women say that the campaign has boosted their confidence.

We want women to have options and variety available to them within their local area.

Getting this right starts with inclusion. Statistics show that for women on lower incomes from under-represented groups, the challenges and feelings of not being included are even greater.

When we support women’s sport, we will support women and girls right across our communities – not just elite athletes however important they are

Secondly, we know that in order to reach women and girls from all walks of life, equal access to high quality PE and school sports has a fundamental role to play.

I have seen first hand the value of school sports in my own constituency in Barnsley South. It was great to visit High View Primary Centre Centre in Wombwell a few weeks ago to watch the FA’s annual Biggest Ever Football Session, and I have enjoyed seeing the impact that events such as the Daily Mile can have on local children across Barnsley.

So, through our expert-led review of the curriculum, we are going to ensure that every child has the opportunity to engage in a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.  I’ve been working closely with the Minister for Schools and with National Governing Bodies across a range of issues, and we are committed to ensuring that all children can access high-quality sport and physical activity across the school day.

We also know that access to facilities, player welfare standards and suitable kit and equipment are all key parts of ensuring women and girls have the opportunity to excel.

On 21 March, we announced an investment of £100 million to fund grassroots facilities throughout the UK. £98 million of this will support projects in 2025/26.

This funding will support more women and girls to take part in the sports that they love, particularly by ensuring that funded sites across the UK provide priority slots for women and girls. Beyond this, in England there is funding specifically targeted at creating female-friendly facilities off the pitch, including changing rooms and toilets.

As well as focusing on getting women and girls active at a grassroots level, progress in women’s sport requires a healthy professional system to fund participation and to create inspirational role models.

This is why I am acting on the recommendations of Karen Carney’s independent Review of Women’s Football starting with a series of in depth discussions on the recommendations, and led by a taskforce I have convened to drive this forward.

We want Karen’s excellent Review to lead to tangible change in women’s football, acting as a wider blueprint for all of women’s sport.

Our work is already making a difference: we the Taskforce recently agreed on a series of concrete actions to improve player welfare in women’s football.

I also want to address one of the major issues identified by Karen in the Review, which is the lack of research.  Only 6% of all sports science research today is dedicated solely to female athletes. Obviously this imbalance is a global challenge but I believe the UK is well positioned to take the lead in addressing, building on our reputation for world class research. This Government is determined to ensure that our sport science research continues to be world leading and tailored to the needs of our athletes.

On a recent visit to Loughborough University’s Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub, I saw first hand ground breaking innovation which will shape the future of women’s sport.

This includes development in areas such as the menstrual cycle, the design of pregnancy and postpartum sportswear, sports nutrition, and innovation in sports bras.

This vital work will help us accelerate the progress we have already made and ensure that research into women’s sport is tailored to female athletes.

Finally, progress in women’s sport also means increasing visibility and inspiring a nation, by showcasing what our world leading female athletes can do.

We know women and girls across the country are inspired by female role models.

This summer, some fans will be watching the Lionesses on TV with their family, while others will be at the Women’s Rugby World Cup across England enjoying the atmosphere. Many more will be watching their favourite local teams and athletes from their home town.

We want everyone to join us in marvelling at the incredible talent we have here in the UK.  We want to create the best women’s leagues in the world and we want to lead the way in helping women’s sport  to stand the test of time and be financially sustainable.

This will mean that a girl growing up in my area of Barnsley will be able to watch us host major events like the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the Women’s T20 World Cup and the Tour de France Femmes, and be able to recreate moments with their friends at school.

With our incredible track record for hosting these kinds of events, I know that they are going to be huge success stories that inspire everyone watching women’s sport right across the globe.

We are also working hard to support the FA’s bid for the 2035 Women’s World Cup, a tournament with the potential to inspire yet another generation of women’s football fans.

This is how we lead the way in women’s sport and create lasting legacies for generations to come.

Before I end today, I want to directly address last week’s Supreme Court ruling, which I am sure is on the minds of many of you attending today. As a Government we have always been clear that when it comes to women’s sport, biology matters and we will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion. Alongside this, sports need to come up with approaches to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part somehow – and I know that sporting bodies will be considering this in light of the Supreme Court decision.

As I finish speaking to you today, I recognise that we still have challenges to overcome when it comes to women’s sport. However, the future is also one of huge opportunities to drive women’s sport forward.

Progress in women’s sport requires a clear vision.  From young girls learning about sport and movement in school through PE, to teenagers accessing facilities built with women and girls in mind, to adults having the right knowledge, kit and environment, to excel we want to support women and girls at every stage of their lives.

We want women and girls across the UK to watch global events hosted at home, to be inspired by their role models and to have the opportunity to dream big.  Every girl deserves that chance.

And to enable this, this Government is committed to improving access to sport in schools, to making provision of facilities more equal, to improving research, driving visibility and investing in women’s sport at every level.

It is not enough to focus on one aspect alone.  We must drive progress across all of these areas as part of one cohesive women’s sport strategy.

I look forward to working with you all to ensure all women and girls have the opportunities they deserve.

Thank you.

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Minister for Civil Society and Youth, at the Guildhall in London on 12 February 2025.

Good morning everyone, thank you Neil for that really kind introduction and thoughtful speech – the challenge you outlined is an important one.

It’s great to be here with you at the Beacon Philanthropy and Impact Forum today.

I want to start by thanking The Beacon Collaborative for organising this event, and the Charities Aid Foundation for sponsoring it and the City of London for hosting at this beautiful building.

You’re here today, and are part of organisations like Beacon Collaborative, and Charities Aid Foundation, because you believe in the power of organisations and people using their resources to deliver social impact.
And it’s a belief this Government shares.

The UK has a vibrant culture of service and generosity, and philanthropy is so often the outlet for that culture.

Every week hundreds of thousands of people – in our villages, towns and cities – come together and do what they can to support others. They devote their time, their money or both, to improve the lives of people less fortunate than themselves.

That is something we should never take for granted.

Philanthropy sustains over 170,000 charities in the UK and thousands of others who are so small they’re not actually registered.

And it does things Governments can’t do – reaching into communities, and applying local knowledge and insight.

I see it all the time in my own area of Barnsley.

I can tell you so many examples, organisations such as Barnsley Youth Choir, Barnsley Hospices and BIADS, a local dementia charity I am patron of, all rely on charitable donations and giving from the local community to sustain their vital work. As Neil said, they all have their own stories, as I know you all will.

But you recognise, as I do, that more is possible.

And forums like this are a vital opportunity for the sector to come together and look at how we take philanthropy in the UK to the next level.

The instinct people have to help is always there.

It’s the job of the Government, working with organisations like the ones you represent, to find new, creative ways to make it not only easier to give, but more rewarding.

That is part of why we started a new chapter in the relationship between Government and civil society through a Civil Society Covenant.

We launched the Covenant at No10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister in October, in order to reset the relationship between Government and Civil Society. To make it a partnership that is built on a foundation of trust and respect.

And it reflects our view that our charities, social enterprises and community groups have a huge and vital role to play in helping us deliver on this Government’s missions.

Civil society groups can help make our streets safer, they can create opportunities for our young people, and they can reduce the burden on the NHS by supporting people to live healthier lives.

And philanthropists, social investors and impact investors will have an important role to play in the Covenant, when it’s fully established in the coming months.

This Government also recognises the enormous contribution social investors, philanthropists and businesses can provide in the delivery of our Plan for Change.

Our impact investment market, worth £76 billion, leads the way in Europe and really sets the standard, and it reflects the fact that people want to see a connection between their investment and real social impact on the ground.

As the Minister responsible for the impact economy, encompassing both philanthropy and impact investment, I see not only the incredible work happening in this space, but the huge potential for growing the money invested in public good.

That is why I’m proud we are building on the UK’s strong industry leadership in social impact investing and working in partnership with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to establish the Government’s Social Impact Investment Advisory Group. And I was really pleased to speak to Darren Jones about this last night.

We are committed to backing private investment that delivers positive social impact right across the country, and this newly announced Advisory Group will help achieve this.

Philanthropy is a vital part of the impact economy.

So I’d like to be clear with everyone here today on our three priorities for philanthropy.

Firstly, the Government wants to help to connect philanthropic investment with the places that need it most.

Secondly, we want to unlock extra philanthropic investment.

Thirdly, we want to partner with civil society, communities, donors and businesses to celebrate a culture of giving.

On our first priority, this Government has been clear since our first day in office that we are committed to putting local people, communities and places first.

Supporting philanthropic growth across the country is a really important route to generating more private capital that can deliver public good.

That’s why the Secretary of State has committed to setting out a place-based philanthropy strategy so we can create an environment where the benefits of philanthropy are felt in communities everywhere.

I know this is an area that many of you are invested in or connected to.

Made-in-Stoke, which I was really pleased to visit a few months ago, Blackpool Pride of Place and Islington Gives are brilliant examples of what can be achieved with a place-based approach. I know many representatives of these networks are here with us today.

By creating a community of philanthropists who are invested in the future of a city or town and who want to contribute to its success, they are blazing a trail for others to follow. And Neil, you rightly referenced the impact of place in your remarks.

In areas that need it most, these networks are delivering programmes supporting young people’s skills development, from sports activities to dance and ballet classes for children.

We can learn a great deal from these models of giving – by people motivated by the idea of helping give back to the community that helped to shape them.

My officials and I will continue to explore how this Government can best support the growth of these innovative initiatives.

When it comes to the second priority of unlocking additional philanthropic investment, there are already some excellent examples of what philanthropy can deliver.

Family Foundations such as the Reece’s Foundation in the North East are working to address some of the most complex problems in the region, supporting innovations like the National Geothermal Energy Centre whilst providing new opportunities for local people.

But, as I said earlier, we need the right structures in place to make it as easy as possible for philanthropists to give more and would-be philanthropists to give for the first time.

Gift Aid is a vital part of the already existing system, and it gives charities and donors important tax relief.

And for businesses, payroll giving provides companies an easy way for employees to give in a tax-efficient way to the causes they care about.

We want to raise awareness of just how straightforward that scheme is, and there couldn’t be a better time as February is Payroll Giving month, as I’m sure you all know.

The final part of the equation is changing how we talk about and celebrate philanthropy.

In 2023 we collectively gave £13.9 billion to charity. It’s a phenomenal amount of money and it’s testament to the generosity that exists across our country.

But if you look deeper, you find that the number of donors is actually decreasing.

Clearly there’s no one single reason why that would be the case, but I think it’s all of our responsibility to do our bit in championing and celebrating those who do donate.

Last year I had the privilege of attending the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, seeing first hand some of our most exceptional athletes perform on the biggest stage of all.

Over the last decades, philanthropists like Barrie Wells have supported the training success of athletes including Jessica Ennis-Hill, who started her career in Sheffield, just down the road from my constituency of Barnsley.

After winning Gold at the 2012 Olympics in London, she went on to engage and inspire the next generation of young people through philanthropy funded workshops in the Athletes4Schools programme.

Similarly, businesses continue to contribute to society, like Barclays, who support young people and create opportunities for all, through their community grass roots football grants.

5,500 community groups have been supported across the UK with the aim of helping to reduce inequalities in football.

If you look at a sector like the arts, that is one that’s always relied on a variety of funding sources.

And that’s why, for over 20 years, DCMS has partnered with the Wolfson Foundation to deliver the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.

But these are just some of the examples of what can be done when we work together to build things that deliver long term benefits.

You share in our ambition to raise the amount donated and the number of people donating it, and I urge you all to talk loudly and proudly about some of the great work going on in the regions across the country.

That just leaves me to thank you all, once again, for inviting me to join you all today.

By working together we can fulfil the huge untapped potential that exists in the impact economy, in our civil society, and across our philanthropic landscape.

There are no simple answers to how we do it but, by focussing on the areas I’ve set out today, I am certain we can meet the challenge head on.

Together we can grasp the opportunity to improve people’s lives and give back to communities we all care deeply about.

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Sports Minister, on 12 September 2024 at the Birmingham Town Hall in Birmingham.

Thank you Andria, David and the whole National Lottery family for inviting me to speak today.

It is an absolute privilege to be here in Birmingham to welcome home ParalympicsGB and get the chance to celebrate your remarkable achievements in Paris.

I cannot imagine how the last few weeks must have been for all of you. The build up… the excitement… the adrenaline.

What you achieved out there was absolutely phenomenal.

Second place in the medal table – for the third consecutive Paralympic Games.

Unbelievable displays of stamina, skill and strength.

You built on the record-breaking performances of Rio and Tokyo, and you made the whole country very proud.

Whether you brought home a medal or not, your performances were testament to what can be achieved through focus and commitment.

You withstood pain and overcame everything in front of you, pushing yourselves to the absolute limit.

I hope you’ve all had a chance to relax and really soak in everything you accomplished.

I was delighted to be in Paris to cheer you on as I know people up and down the country were doing the same.

This Government wants to support the next generation of athletes to make their dreams a reality, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

We are reviewing the ways we can put sport back at the centre of the curriculum.

We want to make sure that every child, wherever they live, can access first class grassroots facilities.

I will continue to work with our Arm’s Length Body Sport England, who do great work in making sure each of their programmes directly impacts disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

This includes initiatives such as the We Are Undefeatable campaign, and partnerships with disability sports organisations.

We are fully committed to enabling you to excel on the world stage and will continue to support you in the run up to LA 2028.

None of that would have been possible without the infrastructure that UK Sport and ParalympicGB support, and of course the enduring support of the National Lottery.

The National Lottery has been instrumental to our continued success at the last few Paralympic Games.

Thanks to the funding generated by National Lottery players, ParalympicsGB has continued to excel, cementing its remarkable position of second place on the all-time Games medal table.

I know that many of you, straight after you finished your event, spoke about how important the National Lottery has been to your journey, and how it has been the bedrock of your success.

So I would like to thank everyone at the National Lottery, and all the people who play, for helping to do their bit and backing successive generations of GB Paralympians.

All of you here today have helped to inspire and paved the road for the next generation, so I hope you enjoy the celebrations tonight.

I hope to see as many of you as possible in the coming months, encouraging others to follow in your footsteps.

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Minister for Sport, on 20 July 2024.

I’m delighted to be here today to speak to members of the FSA, the Football Supporters’ Association, as Minister for Sport, at the home of English football – Wembley Stadium.

It’s a privilege to join you at this AGM which is of course Malcolm Clarke’s last as chair, after a mere 22 years. I know the huge impact he has had, and I wish you well.

You are all meeting here today to discuss how fans can be given a greater voice and ensure your concerns are addressed by the game.

Fans are the heart and soul of the game and I want to set out how this government will support you.

The inclusion of the Football Governance Bill in the King’s Speech on Wednesday is the first step in delivering that support – by introducing a new regulator for football in law.

The FSA is one of our key partners, ensuring that the voice of fans is represented as we develop these proposals. I want to continue to work with you to deliver this commitment which will ensure a more sustainable future for our football clubs and to ensure fans’ voices are heard. Having worked with you closely over the last few months, I know firsthand the impact you have had.

Every football fan deserves the opportunity to follow the team that they love without having to fight back against unsuitable owners; battle to keep their club’s name, colours and badge; see their club try to join a closed league of select clubs syphoned off from the rest of the English football pyramid; or even risk their club disappearing altogether.

Our football fans are the best in the world – which is why we are committed to repaying that dedication – by making this country the best place in the world to be a football fan.

We’ll do this by giving fans a greater say in the way their club is run and ensure the financial sustainability of football clubs, protecting them for generations to come.

This will include ensuring that clubs regularly consult a representative group of fans on strategic matters and other issues of interest to supporters. This means that a wide range of fans, regardless of background, will have the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Too often we’ve seen how the financial mismanagement of beloved clubs like Bury has a devastating impact on loyal fans and local communities. Indeed, the Secretary of State’s first visit was to Gigg Lane. Irresponsible owners, unsustainable financial models and inadequate regulation have cast a shadow over too many of our community clubs.

Their experiences highlight the frailties of current football governance systems in place to help protect clubs. Governance systems that have led to excessive and reckless risk-taking, something that the new regulatory regime will address.

But while we work to address those issues, I also want to recognise the fantastic global success story that is English football. It is one of our greatest cultural exports, attracting more viewers and higher revenues than any of its international rivals.

That’s why we need to ensure that the Regulator’s approach is proportionate, risk-based and targeted, while keeping fans at its heart. I’m confident that providing this stable regulatory environment will attract investors that will improve the experience for you, the fans. This is a view which is also shared by a number of clubs across the footballing pyramid.

I know that the risks clubs face are real and current. So we will act as quickly as the parliamentary timetable will allow to get the Regulator in place.

I want to finish by thanking the FSA for inviting me to speak at this year’s AGM.

And to take the opportunity to congratulate Kevin Miles on the award of an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List in recognition for his services to football.

This honour acknowledges the dedication which Kevin has given over so many years to ensuring that the interests of football fans are championed and that local communities have a staunch ally in protecting their local football clubs.

These local clubs are an essential part of the social fabric of Britain.

They are vital community assets that bring together people from all backgrounds, which is why we need to protect and nourish them in the interests of fans and the local communities they serve.

I look forward to our continued working partnership as we move forward to reform football for the better.

The speech made by Stephanie Peacock, the Labour MP for Barnsley East, in the House of Commons on 8 December 2022.

I begin by thanking the Backbench Business Committee for granting this important debate, and I congratulate the right hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Sir Mike Penning) on securing and leading it.

The BBC is a great British institution, a cornerstone of our creative economy and an important part of our day-to-day lives. From CBeebies to Bitesize to Radio 4, the BBC has something for everyone, providing round-the-clock news, education, entertainment and culture. It is absolutely right that institutions such as the BBC modernise in an increasingly digital world and keep pace with global media giants, but in doing so, we must protect the traditional yet vital services, such as the excellent local radio network, that make our BBC the world-leading service it is.

Today’s debate has focused on the contribution of local radio across our country. From Easington to Worcester to Wokingham, there is agreement across this House that the BBC should review its decision to end local programming on weekdays after 2 pm and secure the future of the local radio network. Given the importance that local communities place on local BBC radio, and the fact that it is an intrinsic part of what their licence fee goes towards, there is concern that reducing local radio content will drive a wedge between the BBC and the public to its detriment. Indeed, BBC local radio contributes a huge amount to each area it serves, and I certainly know that BBC Radio Sheffield does that in my local area.

Everyone across the Chamber has paid tribute to their local stations, particularly the hon. Member for Southend West (Anna Firth), who did so poignantly. The hon. Member for North Norfolk (Duncan Baker) and others shared the statistic that local radio reaches nearly 6 million people—that is 15% of adults in the UK. First and foremost, it provides truly local news. Although the BBC has provided assurances that local news bulletins and live sport will continue to run under its proposals, the National Union of Journalists has warned that the BBC’s erosion of local output could mark the beginning of the end for local radio. My right hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell), the chair of the NUJ group, outlined its concerns passionately and in detail.

Dame Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way, and I apologise for not being here; I was in the Westminster Hall debate, too. My hon. Friend might be able to help me with this. BBC management has said that the impact of its proposals would be the loss of 48 roles. However, in the Radio Humberside and Radio Lincolnshire regions alone, it wants to close seven staff presenter roles, plus around five other jobs may go in the planned restructure. That is around 12 jobs across two out of the 39 local radio stations. It may be that our area is being hit particularly hard, but if that is spread across all the areas, that would be a loss of around 200 jobs, would it not?

Stephanie Peacock

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, and as we have heard in the debate, it is not just Radio Humberside; it is across the country, and I know that colleagues from Northern Ireland have made this case as well.

This is a real concern to local journalists and to listeners, because local radio is such an important part of our lives. Whether it is local traffic updates, school closures or extreme weather events, the provision of trustworthy local news is vital, especially at a time when misinformation is becoming common but hard to spot in a digital world. BBC local radio’s news facilities, for example, provided a lifeline during the pandemic, giving reliable and localised case numbers, guidance and vaccination updates for each individual area.

It is not just “breaking news” bulletins that keep people informed. Regular local programming gives people access to the arts, charities, education and cultural events that are truly relevant to them, helping to ensure that each area remains connected to its past and present. The hon. Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild) spoke about some of the programmes in his area. It is precisely that kind of programming that faces the axe under these proposals.

The past few months have also shown us how BBC local radio can contribute to the healthy functioning of our democracy, enabling national leaders to be held to account on local issues and local leaders to be questioned by those they directly represent. Regional and national alternatives to such shows simply will not have the same effect, and once these local opportunities are gone, it will be extremely hard to get them back, as the hon. Member for Watford (Dean Russell) described.

Local radio helps connect those at risk of digital exclusion to their communities. Although many people, and particularly the younger generation, now access a lot of their media online, there still exists a group who cannot access the digital world. Some cannot get a reliable fast connection due to their location; some were never taught the skills to navigate the online world; and others simply cannot afford the price of a phone bill or broadband. For people in that group—particularly older people or those living in rural areas—truly local programming matters, as the right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) described. In a period when loneliness is increasing, now is simply not the time to threaten cutting people off. My hon. Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell) rightly pointed out that many lonely people turn on the radio for connection and companionship when they are on their own.

Of course, we understand the need to modernise our institutions, as outlined by the BBC in the four pillars it set out yesterday. Over the last 20 years, the media landscape has changed dramatically. Indeed, when the last remit for public service broadcasters such as the BBC was created, it was done through reforms to the Communications Act 2003. Back then, online platforms such as YouTube had not even launched, and nor had devices, such as the iPhone, that brought the internet to our pockets. Now global media giants such as Amazon have become major players, and phones challenge radio and TV for our attention. It is due to these changes that the media Bill must be brought forward as soon as possible, with the obvious exclusion of the privatisation of Channel 4, so that our public service broadcasters can continue to cater for British audiences in the modern world.

In the meantime, the BBC has remained competitive in the digital space through BBC News online, iPlayer, BBC Sounds and more. Although these updates and changes are necessary to capture digital and young audiences, they do not need to come at the expense of traditional services that are still contributing to communities across the country. BBC local radio still has value in today’s society, and that must be taken into account. The hon. Member for Warrington South (Andy Carter) made that case very strongly.

The News Media Association has warned that the BBC moving its content from radio to online could force competition with local written news from commercial providers, threatening their ability to generate sustainable revenue. The BBC needs to ensure that its modernisation plans continue its tradition of promoting local journalism rather than stifling it. The hon. Member for Cleethorpes (Martin Vickers) quoted his local NUJ rep, who articulated that.

We recognise that the BBC, by its very nature, must remain impartial and independent, but that does not stop it from making its decision-making processes transparent, to ensure that its plans help create a BBC that caters for all its audiences. The BBC must be clear with the public on what analysis and consultation it undertook to prompt its decision to restrict local radio services and what assessment it has made of the impact this will have on its listeners.

That is particularly important in the light of Ofcom’s fifth annual report on the BBC, which found that some audiences, such as those in lower socioeconomic groups, have been persistently less satisfied and are less likely to use its services. Like every other organisation, the BBC must be clear on its best practice for managing cuts to its workforce. Local journalists should not be finding out through the media that over 100 audio jobs will be cut, placing their livelihoods at risk overnight just before Christmas.

Local radio has been at the heart of communities for generations, and this debate has highlighted how important it is for so many people up and down the country. I know that many across Barnsley enjoy and rely on Radio Sheffield. We hope the BBC can review its decision to cut local radio and support the network for many years to come.