Media: Ownership

Debate between Lord Trimble and Baroness Garden of Frognal

Wednesday 15th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

The noble Lord is absolutely right. It is perhaps all too easy to overlook the fact that BSkyB performs a great service in the country and, indeed, that News Corporation has played a great part in media plurality over the years. It is to the credit of News Corporation that it is co-operating fully in the current investigation.

[Lord Trimble]

My Lords, is there not an overriding public interest in the continued existence of a free press and does this not apply to all forms of media?

[Baroness Garden of Frognal]

I absolutely agree with my noble friend. It is essential that we have a free press in this country. It is very much valued. We sometimes have to take the rough with the smooth in some of the ideas and media stories that a free press comes up with.