Sunak expected to shelve Channel 4 privatisation plans

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to shelve plans to privatise Channel 4 as part of efforts to streamline a packed legislative programme.

Plans to privatise Channel 4 were first tabled by ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries earlier this year but the Financial Times reports that the decision to drop the idea has been signalled by Downing Street to industry and Whitehall.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan, who was appointed under former prime minister Liz Truss and was subsequnetly kept in post by Sunak, said in September she was “re-examining” the business case.

Protests against the plans, organised by performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity and public service group We Own It, took place in London and Leeds last week.