Nadine Dorries

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has clashed with TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp after the Cabinet minister blasted opponents of proposals to privatise ...

We believe we can sell Channel 4 to a buyer who will fund emerging talent, independent and impartial news, and invest in every corner of the UK. That is a truly Conservative and Thatcherite vision for Channel 4. It is also home of the Great British Bake Off and known for its groundbreaking drama. The first voice heard on the new channel when it launched on November 2, 1982, was that of continuity announcer Paul Coia. He said: 'Good afternoon. Channel 4's sale won't just benefit the broadcaster. Our independent production companies are flourishing, with only seven per cent of the industry's revenue coming from Channel 4. She also claimed that the broadcaster could not be preserved in its current state because of 'decreasing advertising revenue and decreasing investment in new content' Former minister Damian Green said: 'The sale of Channel 4 is politicians and civil servants thinking they know more about how to run a business than the people who run it. The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci tweeted: 'They asked for "a debate"; 90% of submissions in that debate said it was a bad idea. 'Few opponents want to engage with the issue of guaranteeing Channel 4's long-term future. It doesn't cost the tax payer a penny. 'I also love C4, especially Location Location, but as I say in my article, it's time to look to the future.

In messages posted on Twitter, Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries have shared their views on the ...

"I also love C4, especially Location Location, but as I say in my article, it's time to look to the future. Time for C4 to fly the nest towards a very exciting future." Replying to Allsopp's posts, Ms Dorries suggested Mrs Thatcher's memoirs, The Downing Street Years, proved she intended the channel to be sold.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries clashes with Location, Location, Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp over Channel 4 privatisation plans.

‘I also love C4, especially Location Location, but as I say in my article, it’s time to look to the future. The presenter responded to the announcement by tweeting that ‘no true Conservative would sell Channel 4’ and that ‘Lady T will be spinning in her grave’. The Government confirmed last week that it will proceed with plans to privatise Channel 4, which has been publicly owned since it was founded in 1982 and is funded by advertising.

The Location Location Location star said any Tory who votes for the sell off is a "traitor to their party and country".

“I also love C4, especially Location Location, but as I say in my article, it’s time to look to the future. She wrote that former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who set up Channel 4 in 1982, had ultimately wanted it to be “free from the constraints of the state” and described opposition to the move as “lazy, overwrought and ill-informed rhetoric from the Leftie luvvie lynch mob”. In the article, Dorries addresses the government’s decision to push ahead with plans to sell off the channel.

Kirstie Allsopp clashed with the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries on Twitter when the MP claimed critics of the plan to privatise Channel 4 were 'lazy, ...

“The channel’s salad days are in the past. Being owned by the Gov is restrictive. When the plans were announced, a furious Kirstie took to her Twitter account again to vent that: “no true Conservative would sell Channel 4” and that “Lady T will be spinning in her grave”.