Privatization of Channel 4 should not go ahead, culture secretary tells Rishi Sunak

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Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has recommended that the planned privatization of Channel 4 not proceed, a leaked letter has revealed.

Writing to Rishi Sunak, the cabinet minister said there were "better ways to ensure the longevity of C4" than selling the public broadcaster.

The apparent U-turn follows plans announced by the government of Boris Johnson last year to privatize the channel, sparking outrage from opposition parties, Tory MPs and media figures.

In a leaked letter to the News Agents, Ms. Donelan wrote: "After reviewing the business case, I have concluded that pursuing a sale at this stage is not the right decision."

The Secretary for culture also told Mr Sunak that the TV business "would be very disrupted by a sale at a time when growth and stability economic are our priorities".

She said a U-turn on the sale plan "is likely to be popular with parliamentarians, particularly the pipe which has raised concerns about the effect that 'a sale of C4C could have on the UK's public service broadcasting system'.

Ms Donelan told the Prime Minister the government should use legislation to remove rules that prevent C4 from produce content for its own main channel, saying it was time to give the broadcaster "more commercial flexibility".

The minister said she wanted to impose a new legal obligation on the board of administration of C4 to focus on long-term sustainability, but said they want to see the government give C4 "more tools" to help maximize "the growth they provide to the creative sector and regions". /p>

The former conservative culture secretary Nadine Dorries launched a bitter attack on Mr Sunak and his government over the apparent U-turn - saying it would be "almost impossible to face the electorate" in the next general election.

Ms Dorries - who led the campaign to privatize C4 in hopes of raising £2bn - tweeted: 'Three years of a Progressive Tory government wasted.

She added: "Upper level, dumped. The reform of social protection, abandoned. Keeping young people and vulnerable people safe online, watered down. An EU leg bonfire, does not happen. The £2bn sale of C4 has been cancelled. Replaced by what?"

Labour, strongly opposed to the sale, said the move Ms Dorries announced in April 2022 had been "a complete waste of everyone's time".