TV cameras in Commons urged

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 4

TV cameras in Commons urged

NZPA London The former New Zealand television personality. Dr Austin Mitchell, is leading a move to have proceedings in the House of Commons telecast. Dr Mitchell, the Labour member for Grimsby for the las: three years, will introduce a Private Member's Rill at the end ol next montn urging the entry ot cameras into the House. Radio broadcasts of the House began only two years

i ago. although they are not! I continuous as in New Zea-i and. and previous attempts, i to have business televised i have tailed bv wide margins.: Bu: Dr Mitchell believes! that the influx of 132 new) ■ members in the 635-seat: ■ House after the General Election in May might have > swung the balance of opin- : ion in his favour. The introduction of tele-; vision will also allow Press > photographers into the pre- ; viously ‘ unphotographed . chamber. “I hope the new intake of! !members wul be more sen-: jsible,” Dr Mitchell said, “but! a lot depends on the reactions there have been to! radio broadcasts from the House. “These reactions have con-1 centrated on the kind of jungle noises that we hear 1 .at Prime Minister’s question- ’ time ” Dr Mitchel! was a uni ver-1 sity lecturer and television! political commentator in: New Zealand during the 19605. and continued to work on television w'hen he: returned to Britain. He has not yet given the: medium away. One of the most outspoken Labour! back-benchers. Dr Mitchell , fronts the party’s television! commercials. ’’l I;