BBC Inside Out and Politics North East and Cumbria

Early day motion 612, tabled 16 June 2020 by Grahame Morris (Labour). Signed by 9 members.

That this House is concerned to learn the important BBC regional programme Inside Out North East and Cumbria is under threat as the corporation seeks to make cuts to programming; understands that regional segments of the Politics North East and Cumbria are similarly threatened; regrets that all filming of these award-winning BBC regional current affairs programmes have been postponed and these programmes look likely to be shelved following an internal review expected by the end of June 2020; notes that Inside Out is a unique programme, rooted in the heart of our communities, investigating and holding those in power to account and telling remarkable stories of life across the region; further notes that the programme has helped to bring issues of public concern to national attention, serving a valuable function in the democratic life at local authority and constituency-wide level; and supports the call of the National Union of Journalists for the BBC to rethink the proposals to cut those vital, local current affairs programmes.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1.