Politics Over The Air In Britain

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1939, Page 3

Politics Over The Air In Britain

LONDON, February 18

The-'British Broadcasting Corporation announces an innovation by which a microphone will be placed at the disposal of the three main political parties, once a month for free discussion on the same matter of current political interest. The parties will select their own speakers and subjects shortly before each broadcast. Each debate will last 45 minutes, and there will be in the studio on each occasion three speakers representing the different parties. The subject of the first debate will be old-age pensions. The announcement lends interest to the facts disclosed in an answer in the House of Commons yesterday regarding broadcasts by politicians. It has always been recognised as a principle of British broadcasting that for speeches of a controversial character access to a microphone should be fairly divided between the Government and the Opposition parties.

The question was directed toward ascertaining if in practice that principle is being maintained.