ANDY KERSHAW PROGRAMME

Early day motion 857, tabled 14 June 2000 by Lembit Öpik (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 50 members.

That this House very much regrets the BBC's decision to end Andy Kershaw's late-night Radio 1 programme, which for 15 years has been introducing listeners to a very wide range of music and musicians from around the world, as well as other musical areas; believes that his programme is a key element in the BBC's public service broadcasting role, by exposing listeners to a breadth of musical experience which they would otherwise never encounter; notes the extraordinarily high level of public and media opposition to the termination of Mr Kershaw's programme; and calls on the BBC to re-instate the show by September.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 19, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.