The Post’s campaign for a fair share from the BBC has been backed by politicians from the three major political parties.
Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians have hit out at the BBC for spending just two per cent of its outlay in the Midlands – where more than a quarter of licence fee-payers live.
This comes after the campaign secured backing from those working in the the television production sector in the region.
The Post's demands
MP Gisela Stuart (Lab Edgbaston) this week delivered a letter to BBC Trust chairwoman outlining the Post’s demands.
She said the BBC was selling itself short by ignoring talent from Birmingham and the wider region.
She said: “I think it is really stupid of the BBC to overlook areas like Birmingham.
“I thought Tony Hall got it that if he wants a future relationship with the British public then he has to get to grips with this.
“If you look at the demography of Birmingham, that is the future, so they have to get it right here. If they don’t have that relationship then that is worrying.”
Conservative MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis James Morris MP said the figures were frustrating given the West Midlands’ long and proud history of creating “brilliant” television and radio.
He added: “It has been hugely frustrating to see national programming output slashed again and again. The numbers unearthed by the Post speak for themselves – this region’s licence fee payers are getting a really raw deal.
“The BBC needs to step up and implement a solid and urgent plan to ensure that this inequity is addressed. This region’s talent will otherwise continue to ebb away, which will cause unacceptable and preventable damage to our media and creative industries. This cannot not be allowed to happen.”
Lorely Burt (Lib Dem Solihull) said the Midlands deserves its fair share from the broadcaster. She said: “The Midlands is bursting with TV talent – Top Gear’s Richard Hammond grew up in Solihull, Jamie and Oliver Phelps of Harry Potter and Felicity Jones, the female lead in the Theory of Everything, all hail from Birmingham.
“So why is it the Midlands sometimes seems to slip under the TV radar?
“The BBC produces fantastic programmes but our area clearly deserves its fair share.”
