ITV GRANADA AND POLITICAL COVERAGE

That this House notes with concern the decision by ITV Granada to reduce its political coverage on regional television; recognises that plans include reducing the ITV regional political programme from a weekly programme to a monthly programme over a period of 10 months; further notes that this will not begin until after the Conference season, leaving regional viewers with no local perspective on the party conferences; highlights the fact that the decision taken by ITV executives comes before the verdict from Ofcom on public service licensing; and urges ITV to re-think its precipitate proposals and ensure that its political coverage is not diminished or sidelined in any way.