News

Boris Johnson’s Tory party threatening Channel 4’s broadcast licence is their most Trump move yet

Boris Johnson’s Tory party threatening Channel 4’s broadcast licence is their most Trump move yet
Rex Features

In their most Trumpian move to date, the Conservatives are threatening Channel 4’s broadcast license after the ice sculpture furore that erupted this week.

A Conservative source told Buzzfeed News:

If we are re-elected we will have to review Channel 4’s Public Services Broadcasting obligations. Broadcasting organisations are rightly held to a higher standard — and particularly Channel 4 which has a special role enshrined in legislation. Any review would of course look at whether its remit should be better focused so it is serving the public in the best way possible.

The row kicked off when Channel 4 decided to use two ice sculptures in place of Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to represent the climate emergency. This was a response to neither leader feeling this particular debate was worth attending and Johnson actually (quite weirdly, too) sending his father in his place.

The threat seems to be straight out of the Donald Trump playbook who since becoming president as regularlt attacked the media and even as recently as last month the President suggested a state-run media might be the best way forward.

David Lammy was one of many disgusted by the threat issued by the Tories.

More: The coldest reactions to Boris Johnson being replaced by an ice sculpture during climate debate​

More: Boris Johnson once called children of single mothers 'ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate'​

The Conversation (0)
x