Lucy Powell MP

Lucy Powell MP

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Gambling Review White Paper

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Lucy Powell made a speech in the House of Commons

Well, we now know from the former gambling Minister, the hon. Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), that the White Paper is with No. 10 for sign-off—good luck with that. We have also...

Gambling Review White Paper

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Lucy Powell made a speech in the House of Commons

I am not at all surprised to see the Secretary of State still in her place; I had no doubt that she would be the last woman standing in support of the Prime Minister while all around her...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

What about “The Word”?

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

Perhaps the Secretary of State will give way on that point, then, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

Yes, well, it may be, but I do not think it is. [Interruption.] No, I think the hon. Gentleman has let the mask slip on his own side, because Conservative Members do think Channel 4 is a bit...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

I will not give way; I am going to make some progress. Unlike Netflix, which is seeing the number of its subscribers going down, All 4 is a highly successful free streaming service, generating...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

As I am going on to say, many of these things will disappear. Channel 4 occupies a very important part in the ecosystem, and all parts of the ecosystem feed one another. The reason that some...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

Okay, if the hon. Gentleman wants to come in on that point. This is my final giving way.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

I am not going to give way any more. I think the hon. Gentleman is down to speak later anyway. The Government seem to think that the year-on-year investment Channel 4 makes across the country can...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

Absolutely, because it’s great up north, isn’t it? It is not godforsaken. I think that was the word somebody else used.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

My hon. Friend makes an incredibly powerful point that I fully support. Film4 is also a global success story that costs the taxpayer nothing. It invests £25 million each year in British...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

Cardiff is another hub for the media, so I give way to my hon. Friend.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. There is no guarantee whatever.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

No, I do not. This year, it is the most profitable and successful that it has ever been, so I think the right hon. Gentleman’s figures are wrong.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

So the hon. Gentleman now thinks that Channel 4 is not important to Leeds. Perhaps he might want to take up the issue with Leeds MPs and Leeds constituents, who take a very different view. They...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

My hon. Friend makes a really good point. I will come on to some examples in my speech. Secondly, Channel 4 unashamedly supports British jobs and the British economy. The UK’s creative...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

I do not know why the right hon. Gentleman thinks that large American media companies are more innovative than small, British-made institutions such as Channel 4, which has been innovating for...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

I could not agree more. My hon. Friend makes some excellent points, some of which I will turn to later in my speech.

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

We have a very plural system. The argument that I am making is that private and public play different roles in that important ecosystem, but I hope that the House will today agree with my motion...

Channel 4 Privatisation

Commons debates

I beg to move, That this House supports the UK’s much loved cultural institutions, which are celebrated around the world while creating jobs and growth across the country; in the Jubilee...