Channel 4’s failed charm offensive

It’s Jubilee week in London. Boom times for royal hacks mean tough times for their lobby counterparts. Fortunately, today’s publication of the latest edition of the MPs’ register of interests is a godsend for story-starved journalists, scrabbling around to write about something that isn’t about Harry and Meghan.

Perusing the register this morning, Mr S was intrigued to see the name of Channel 4 popping up regularly as a frequent donor to MPs across the House. The public broadcaster has desperately been trying to fight a rearguard action against privatisation in recent months and appears to have launched something of a belated charm offensive to aid that goal. Sadly for the broadcaster, its nearly £11,000 in freebies to eight MPs looks to have been in vain, given Nadine Dorries’ ongoing determination to press ahead with the sale.

Among those enjoying tickets to the BAFTAs and its TV equivalent courtesy of C4 include Jess Phillips, Dehenna Davison and Boris critics Stephen Hammond and Paul Holmes.