Responding to the BBC’s blueprint for an ambitious shake-up of the service, published on 18th March, Andy Carter MP, Chair of the Media Group, said:

"This is a step in the right direction for the BBC to better reflect every part of the country. The wide-ranging proposals set out in the blueprint aim to deliver high-quality broadcasting, talent and investment to all corners of the UK. We have seen with the success of Media City in Salford the benefits that regional news operations can have, and I’m keen to see more jobs heading North, upskilling the next generation.

“As we start to emerge from the pandemic, it is particularly encouraging to see investment in regional news provision, which has played such a vital role throughout the pandemic and is vital in our efforts to level up Britain. I look forward to seeing these changes take effect in the future and supporting the industry to see them happen”.

The All-Party Parliamentary Media Group will continue to collaborate with and scrutinise the BBC, the broader industry and public policy to ensure the sector can thrive on its successes, confronts its challenges, and continue to meet the needs and standards of British audiences into the future.

The Media Group is a forum for discussion within Parliament on public policy as it affects the media sector. An impartial organisation, the Group meets regularly to provide a useful interface between Parliament, the industry and other key stakeholders, making a valuable contribution to raising the quality of debate on media policy.