CHANNEL 4 privatisation is an act of vindictiveness against a broadcaster that has criticised the government, trade unionists have charged.

The Yorkshire & Humber TUC conference in Hull gave unanimous backing on Saturday to a motion by actors’ union Equity to campaign against the government’s plan.

Equity delegate Liam Gerrard told the conference that the proposed privatisation had outraged public opinion, with 90 per cent of responses to a public consultation on the plan opposing it.

Privatisation would affect the supply chain of independent production companies that supply the channel, delegates heard.

“The government does not like Channel 4 because it holds it to account,” he said, adding that privatisation would “strip Channel 4 of its values and talent, and open it to capitalist aggressors with their pockets to line.

“Channel 4 does not cost the taxpayer a penny. It is not in debt. It makes its money commercially. It is successful,” Mr Gerrard asserted.

National Union of Journalists delegate Granville Williams said that 60,000 people had voiced opposition to the proposed privatisation despite a complicated and technical consultation procedure.

“This is a government making a politically vindictive act against Channel 4,” he said. 

Mr Williams pointed out that an academic had called Prime Minister Boris Johnson a liar on a Channel 4 programme in the run-up to the 2019 general election.

“That put her and Channel 4 in the government’s crosshairs,” he said. “It is a no-brainer.”

The conference gave unanimous backing to an instruction to the regional TUC to campaign with unions, the public, MPs and peers against the “irrational, questionable and unnecessary” privatisation of Channel 4.