Tom Watson MP opposes privatising Radio 1:

Radio One provides unique high quality content to a young audience. It engages them in important social action campaigns and provides a first class news service, second to none on any other BBC network. That’s before you begin to look at its broad repertoire of underground and new music. The commercial sector cannot begin to emulate it.

For foreign readers, Radio 1 is a BBC radio channel funded by a poll tax on almost all citizens which has pumped out pop/rock music to British youth for several decades now. It has probably done more to corrupt Language and Thought than any other forces in our nation’s history.

What are the reasons by Tom Watson given for not privatising this phenomenon?

These:

  • Radio 1 does ‘social action campaigns’ (sic)
  • it helped some fat people lose weight
  • it has great performers like Chris Moyles, a passion for music and musicians from the likes of Jo Whiley, and the ability to be a little out there

Well then!

Without state subsidy a lot of modern music would disappear if it could not pay its way!

And there would be fewer ‘social campaigns’, as chosen by and proliferated by ignorant DJs!

Keep it all paid for by a poll tax indefinitely!

Memo to next government: privatise Radio 1 immediately. And compel the BBC to publish the names of all people receiving salaries above £30,000 a year and the totals they receive.