Channel 4 privatisation plans face Tory backlash – UK politics as it happened

This live blog is now closed. You can find our latest stories on Channel 4 below:

• Channel 4 privatisation faces parliamentary revolt, senior Tories say
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• What you need to know about the privatisation of Channel 4
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DCMS select committee chair Julian Knight has questioned if the government's plans to forge forward with the privatisation of Channel 4 are revenge", adding that many Tories believe the move is payback time" for biased coverage".

Knight said Channel 4 could succeed if it was privatised and managed well, but it's a big risk" and must be done as part of a thorough overhaul of all public service broadcasting".

It is certainly true that Channel 4 will have greater freedom to compete once privatised and if managed well it should be able to continue to innovate and crucially appeal to young audiences - a real USP in today's broadcast landscape.

However, this is a big risk. The question has to be, do you think a restricted but brilliant small state broadcaster will part compete with the likes of Apple and Amazon or does it need to be able to borrow and grow in a way only privatisation can unlock?