Tories secretly plan to flog-off Channel 4

[dutchman]

Secret government plans to privatise Channel 4 have been revealed after official documents were photographed as they were carried into Downing Street today.



An unknown official was pictured walking into Number 10 carrying a paper setting out options for a sell-off, which are being discussed at cabinet level.

The sensitive document, which has caused embarrassment for the Government after ministers have repeatedly denied it is being considered, makes the case for 'extracting greater public value' from the channel 'focusing on privatisation options in particular.'

Ministers have previously insisted that the controversial £1billion sell off was not under discussion.

However, a government spokesman today admitted that it was 'looking at a range of options' at how to 'reform' the publicly-owned channel.

Posted online by a photographer outside Number 10, the words 'official - sensitive: commercial' are clearly visible on the document.

It notes the proposal has been discussed at a meeting between Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock and two unnamed secretaries of state.

The document, dated 24 September, reads: 'In your recent meeting with Matt Hancock you agreed that work should proceed to examine the options for extracting greater public value from the Channel 4 Corporation (C4C), focusing on privatisation options in particular, whilst protecting its ability to deliver against its remit.

'This submission outlines the options we propose to explore…including a recommendation that you write to C4 requesting that they open their books'.

An Ofcom review of public service broadcasting is set to consider the future of the channel, which is wholly owned by the taxpayer.

The broadcaster, which launched in 1982, has escaped repeated calls for privatisation in the past.

Proposals to privatise the channel were last considered under the Coalition but it was blocked by the then-Business Secretary Vince Cable and the Liberal Democrats.