Opposition MPs call for shared ownership of C4

Control of Channel 4 could be handed to indies, staff or the general public under innovative plans to transform the business into a John Lewis-style co-operative model, set out by opposition parties.

The Co-operative party, a longstanding partner to the Labour party whose membership includes Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Labour MPs Stella Creasy and Alex Sobel, has set out an ambition for C4 to be ‘mutualised’ to enshrine its public ownership.

Mutualisation would involve control of the broadcaster being taken away from the government and placed with stakeholders, which could include suppliers, staff or viewers.

Policy chief Anna Birley said that the model would simultaneously head off a sale and improve accountability.

“Part of the motivation is around safeguarding public ownership of C4 regardless of whether any government decides they want to sell off the silverware,” she said. “And it would also empower stakeholders and beneficiaries to protect and drive forward its public service remit.”

While the government could still contribute its views regarding the business under a shared-ownership model, it would be one of a number of voices to have input.

“Viewers and staff would be able to vote on issues such as remuneration and strategic direction in a democratic and transparent way, rather than being decided on our behalf by the government,” said Birley. “This way, you create a direct link between those who watch and benefit from C4 and the decisions that are made about how it is run.”

Birley added that while the government currently has no say in the way that C4 is operated, it retains ultimate control. “The chief exec is at the behest of the government and if it decides to sell C4, there is no formal mechanism for those who value it to have a collective say.”

Birley admitted that the Conservative government has shown little appetite for shared-ownership models, following a similar campaign the party launched in support of the BBC, but considers the opportunity would satisfy its stated demands.

“They want C4 to be able to compete with the streamers and be more sustainable,” she said. “A mutual model would enable it to raise capital through democratic share issues which wouldn’t change ownership to private investors.”

A hostile takeover is not on the cards but Birley has taken heart from the party’s work around Northern Rock and fan ownership in football under the previous Labour government.

A petition setting out the plans has gathered more than 15,000 signatures.