Exposed: Channel 4’s £15k nights out at BAFTAs for ‘friendly’ MPs

Channel 4 spent nearly £15,000 taking MPs involved in the debate over whether it should be privatised to BAFTA awards, the Express can reveal.

Following a series of revelations about the tens of thousands of pounds worth of hospitality and a host of other Labour politicians to concerts and the tennis at Wimbledon there has been increased scrutiny regarding the freebies MPs accept.

Analysis of the Members’ Register for Financial Interests shows after the Conservative government decided not to sell off Channel 4, a move by the station’s leadership, the broadcaster selected five politicians who had backed its stance for hospitality at glitzy 2024 film awards events.

The most prestigious of these was the Film BAFTAs hosted at South Bank’s Royal Festival Hall on the banks of the River Thames in February. The star-studded awards show featured the likes of , David Beckham, Dua Lipa, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Hugh Grant, and Cate Blanchett.

Guests were then treated to a celebratory three-course dinner in the same venue where the champagne flowed and stars cut loose on the dancefloor.

Channel 4’s Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Allan hosted a table of politicians for that night’s bash including chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) select committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, who had been a of the government selling off the station.

Also on the guestlist was Nigel Huddleston, another anti-privatisation ex-member of the CMS committee, which is the prime forum for public discussions over the TV station’s governance.

He’d previously Parliament “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” and had questioned the Secretary of State about the potential sale during his stint on the CMS panel.

They were joined by Labour MP Chris Bryant who had argued in favour of the broadcaster’s perspective in .

The only guest it treated who disagreed with the position was , who is often credited with first suggesting the broadcaster should be privatised.

The Express can reveal that, in addition to paying to host a table of influential political figures, the broadcaster paid for Labour MP Alex Sobel to take a guest to the television BAFTAs in May.

Sobel had joined the CMS committee in January and was previously described by his own party as “” the privatisation. In a strong anti-sale address to Parliament, Sobel claimed flogging Channel 4 would be a “tombstone” in .

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP was also taken to the Scottish BAFTAs after supporting several Early Day Motions raising concerns about Channel 4 privatisation.

We asked if Channel 4 could explain how and why it selected these MPs to give hospitality to and whether there is a conflict of interest in an MP, who sits on the Culture, Media and Sport select committee or who has argued on the TV channel’s behalf, being taken to a prestigious event by that same channel.

In response the TV station said it engaged in a “transparent way” that was “in line with industry-wide practices”.

“As a commercially-funded but publicly-owned media company, Channel 4 is accountable to Parliament for the delivery of its remit,” a spokesperson said.

“We therefore regularly engage with MPs and policy makers from across the political spectrum to update them on our work, demonstrate how we are delivering our public service remit and showcase our successes, including significant award nominations for Channel 4 television shows and Film4 productions.

“We engage in a transparent way – in line with common, industry-wide practices – and any hospitality is paid for by our own commercially-generated funds, as Channel 4 does not receive public funding.

“It is also worth noting that both the BAFTA film and TV awards took place more than a year after the debate around the ownership of Channel 4 had concluded (in January 2023) and industry events like BAFTA award ceremonies are commonly attended by relevant industry figures.”

We also asked each of the MPs to explain why it was appropriate for Channel 4 to pay for them to attend the event.

Nigel Huddlestone said: “I have previously received hospitality from Channel 4 and declared it in line with the rules to ensure transparency. Prior to becoming an MP I worked in DCMS sectors in Los Angeles and the UK and have continued my interest in these vital sectors of our economy since becoming an MP.

“They create a lot of jobs and economic activity across the UK. I have been both supportive and critical of Channel 4 and other entities I have received hospitality from. If I felt hospitality was in exchange for something I would not accept it. I think the same goes for most MPs. Transparency of hospitality – which I support – is key to ensuring it does not become transactional.”

Labour MP Chris Bryant said he attended in an official shadow minister capacity and alleged his opposite number, Lucy Frazer, was also there but had not declared the same event. We contacted Frazer to ask her about these claims and have not received a response.

“I attended as the shadow minister for the creative industries including film and high end TV production,” Bryant said.

“It was and is a key part of my job to celebrate and champion the creative industries. I sat near my opposite number the government minister. I registered and declared everything unlike my opposite number who benefited from an exemption the introduced in 2015 for ministers attending in their ‘ministerial capacity’.”

A spokesperson from the Scottish Liberal Democrats responded on Wendy Chamberlain’s behalf, stating: “Saving British made TV shows from damaging Conservative cuts and reforms has long been an issue close to Wendy’s heart, and it is important that MPs understand issues affecting key industries. All hospitality is declared through the usual channels.”

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Alex Sobel and Sir John Whittingdale did not respond to our requests for comment.