Member of Parliament for Penrith and The Border, Dr Neil Hudson, stood up for his constituents who, faced with poor connectivity, rely on local radio and terrestrial TV to stave off rural isolation.
Dr Hudson’s comments came during an Urgent Questions session, quizzing Julia Lopez MP, the Minister of State for Media, Data, and Digital Infrastructure about the impact of the proposed reductions in BBC Local Radio provision.
This follows an announcement that BBC local radio stations programming will be cut significantly in favour of digital content. However, Dr Neil Hudson points to poor rural connectivity which prevents many people accessing programmes via the internet.
He said local radio and terrestrial TV can provide a lifeline for news and education as well as fighting rural isolation and supporting people with their mental health in rural areas. The Minister replied that she was grateful for his comments and would raise his points with the BBC’s Director General in their next meeting.
Representing a vast sparsely populated constituency, Dr Hudson has made improving rural connectivity - both physical and digital - a cornerstone of his political agenda. This year, Dr Hudson’s efforts have helped secure a bus for Alston Moor youngsters to get to college; install high-speed broadband to Brough Community Primary School and Kirkoswald village; and get the £1 billion A66 Upgrade moving forward.
He also has a strong track record standing up for terrestrial TV, speaking out in Parliament over Channel 4’s potential closure, led a debate on Rural Communities in Cumbria which cautioned Government to keen isolated areas in mind when making TV decisions, and continuing to push for the total rollout of Gigabit broadband across Cumbria.
In the Chamber, Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, asked:
“I very much share the concerns raised across the House and by the Minister about these retrograde proposals. In rural areas like Cumbria, people rely on local radio like BBC Radio Cumbria and also terrestrial TV. They provide a lifeline for news, education and mitigate against rural isolation and they support people with their rural mental health.
“Does my Honourable Friend agree with me that we should resist such reductions and in fact we should be bolstering and supporting these vital services?”
Speaking afterwards, Dr Hudson, continued:
“Rural communities such as those here in Cumbria cannot be overlooked by national decision makers. As local people well know, Lazonby is not London and Brough is not Birmingham, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.
“I thank the Minister for her response and hope her meetings with the BBC are successful. I also want to assure constituents that I will continue to fight for the vital lifelines of local radio and terrestrial TV that rural licence fee payers deserve.”