Today’s Prime Ministerial interviews show value of and appetite for BBC local radio

After days of silence following the collapse of the pound, Prime Minister Liz Truss today appeared on local radio stations across the country in an attempt to defend her Government’s economic policy following last week’s mini-budget announcement.

While high-level political interviews are more typically given to a national news outlet, radio stations covering Leeds, Norfolk, Kent, Lancashire, Nottingham, Teesside, Bristol, and Stoke-on-Trent were today each given short interviews with Truss.

The media and public’s response to the Prime Minister’s interviews has been telling; with the hour of coverage producing substantial news coverage and public commentary.

The interviews were coordinated by the BBC’s General News Service, which provides national news coverage to the BBC’s 40 local outlets across England and the Channel Islands. They come as the BBC is looking to make changes and cuts to a number of its services, and many BBC staff face redundancy as the BBC responds to funding challenges necessitated by the Government’s decision to freeze the licence free.

Commenting, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:

“This morning’s Prime Ministerial interviews on BBC local radio stations brilliantly demonstrate why we must defend public service broadcasting and its important role in our democracy.

“BBC local radio holds local politicians and decision-makers to account every day of the week and has a vital role to play in highlighting local issues that are important to communities across the UK. This morning’s interviews and public response have brought its value and impact to the national stage.

“The BBC provides fantastic value for money across our nations and regions and its services are clearly highly valued by the British public. This world-class public service broadcaster has more than demonstrated its value today and must be protected at all costs.”