Commons On Tv (Press, 11 February 1988)
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Summary: Commons On Tv (Press, 11 February 1988)
On 11 February 1988, the British Parliament made a historic decision to allow television cameras into the House of Commons on an experimental basis. This vote saw the pro-television lobby achieve a significant victory against expectations, winning by a margin of 318 to 264, despite opposition from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The push for this change had been largely championed by Labour member Austin Mitchell, a former broadcaster from New Zealand, who received congratulations from Labour leader Neil Kinnock following the successful vote. The implementation of the televising is set to begin in November after remote-control cameras are installed during the summer recess. The initial focus will be on the Prime Minister's question time, known for its spirited exchanges between the Prime Minister and the opposition. Commentary surrounding the decision suggested that it could take until May 1989 before Parliament votes on whether to continue the television experiment, indicating that there may still be debate about its future. In a surprising turn, some Members of Parliament expressed their concerns about the introduction of cameras. One MP remarked that the presence of television might attract more disruptive protests, referring to an incident in the House of Lords where three women had used ropes to abseil from the gallery. The decision to permit televise the Commons followed a previous parliamentary debate in November 1985, where the motion was rejected by a narrow margin of 12 votes. The recent influx of newly elected Members of Parliament from the previous year's General Election is believed to have played a crucial role in shifting the balance toward the decision to broadcast proceedings, marking a significant change in the cultural landscape of British politics and the relationship between the media and Parliament.
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