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Damian Green faces challenger for chair of Commons culture committee Damian Green faces challenger for chair of Commons culture committee
(about 3 hours later)
Conservative MP Jason McCartney is challenging Damian Green in his bid to replace John Whittingdale as chair of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.Conservative MP Jason McCartney is challenging Damian Green in his bid to replace John Whittingdale as chair of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.
He has secured 20 nominations including fellow Conservative Peter Bone, who sponsored a bill in the last parliament calling for the privatisation of the BBC, and five MPs from other parties. He has secured 20 nominations including fellow Conservative Peter Bone, who sponsored a bill in the last parliament calling for the privatisation of the BBC, and five MPs from other parties. McCartney was chair of the all-party group on ITV and vice-chair of the all-party group on the BBC, which Green chaired in the last parliament.
McCartney was a vice-chair of the all-party group on the BBC which Green chaired in the last parliament. However, he has yet to outline the areas on which he believes the committee should focus in the new parliament.
Former air force officer McCartney has a background in regional media, first for BBC local radio and then as a presenter in ITV’s Calendar news, a current affairs show covering Leeds and Yorkshire where he followed in the footsteps of late Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley.Former air force officer McCartney has a background in regional media, first for BBC local radio and then as a presenter in ITV’s Calendar news, a current affairs show covering Leeds and Yorkshire where he followed in the footsteps of late Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley.
He has spoken in parliament of the need for ITV to provide competition for the BBC’s regional news coverage, and criticised high executive pay at the corporation. Speaking to the Guardian, he said that he would bring some “Yorkshire common sense” to the role with a keen interest in sport as vice-chairman of the parliamentary rugby league group and Huddersfield season ticket holder, combined with experience working at both the BBC and ITV.
However, he lacks the extensive media experience boasted by Green, who in a career in journalism spanning a decade and a half worked at the BBC, Channel 4 and the Times, and also founded the European Media Forum thinktank. He has spoken in parliament of the need for ITV to provide competition for the BBC’s regional news coverage, and criticised high executive pay at the corporation. However, while he said he is concerned about the impact of the BBC on its competitors, privatising the corporation would not be in the interests of broadcasting in the UK.
He said: “I’ve seen it from both sides, I was father of the National Union of Journalists chapel at ITV so I’ve represented fellow journalists on the front line. I’ve seen the challenges of new technology and I’ve seen the fantastic journalism the BBC produces but also trying to keep up with it [while at ITV].”
“I bring something a bit different, I was only elected in 2010 but I’ve had recent front line experience in these areas and bring a bit of Yorkshire common sense to the role and a fresh approach.”
McCartney faces an opponent with at least as much experience in Green, who in a career in journalism spanning a decade and a half worked at the BBC, Channel 4 and the Times, and also founded the European Media Forum thinktank.
Green, who announced his bid for the role last week, also previously sat on the DCMS select committee between 1997 and 1998 and has current committee member Paul Farrelly as one of those supporting his application.Green, who announced his bid for the role last week, also previously sat on the DCMS select committee between 1997 and 1998 and has current committee member Paul Farrelly as one of those supporting his application.
The deadline for nominations for chair is 5pm on Wednesday, a week before MPs vote on who will replace Whittingdale, who was made culture secretary last month after 10 years chairing the committee.The deadline for nominations for chair is 5pm on Wednesday, a week before MPs vote on who will replace Whittingdale, who was made culture secretary last month after 10 years chairing the committee.