Chris Bryant MP on sexuality, abuse, and his time as a priest
In this episode of The Fourcast, he tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy what power looks like behind closed doors, and why speaking out about abuse matters. This episode includes discussion about sexual assault. You can find where to access help and support with these issues at: www.channel4.com/4viewers/help-support
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Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits must have access to free-to-air TV, minister says, as licence change looms
Free-to-air terrestrial broadcast TV is only secure until the early 2030s, when licences expire, with campaigners demanding that traditional TV continues alongside any streaming Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant has said that everyone in Britain must have access to free-to-air television. Free-to-air terrestrial broadcast TV is only secure until the early 2030s, when current licences expire. The Broadcast 2040+ coalition, whose members include the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) and the Rural Services Network, is urging the Government to commit to a hybrid future for TV and radio services, ensuring continued universal access to terrestrial TV alongside internet streaming, so that no one is left-behind. Sir Chris said free TV is an 'essential part of modern society' but failed to say what model the Government might support, prompting campaigners to demand that traditional TV must continue alongside any streaming. It comes after reports of all the celebrities rumoured to be joining BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2025. Asked if he could assure Brits that terrestrial TV wouldn't be ditched when licences expire in the early 2030s, Sir Chris told The Mirror: "Well, whatever we end up with, we have to make sure that everybody is able to have free-to-air television. 'You can't have the BBC and ITV and Channel Four and Channel Five and channels like that completely disappearing from elderly people's television screens. 'We need to make sure whatever system we end up with in the future is one that enables everybody to have access to high quality television. I'm sure that's what we'll have. We've managed several of these transitions in the past quite well, and we need to manage that transition as well.' He added: 'I think access to free to air broadcasting is an essential part of a modern society, just as access to the internet is, and I think we need to take the whole of the country with us." Campaigners have raised concerns that older people and poorer families could be left behind if they're forced to switch over to internet streaming, due to lack of consumer awareness, or not being able to afford costs of equipment or installation of fibre connection. Adults aged 75 and older watched an average of 5 hours 41 minutes of broadcaster television a day in 2024, up 3% since 2023, according to media regulator Ofcom's 2025 media report. A Broadcast 2040+ spokesman said: 'The Broadcast2040+ campaign welcomes the Minister's commitment to ensuring that free to air broadcasting remains available to everybody. But this will only be possible if traditional TV continues alongside streaming. 'Millions cannot afford to watch TV through high speed broadband, they cannot receive these services or they simply do not want to consume TV in that way. While viewing habits for many are changing that is not the case for everyone in our society. The government should therefore continue to support traditional broadcasting into the 2040s at the very least.' Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: "Millions of older people will breathe a sigh of relief that the Minister has committed to continuance of free to air television and public broadcasting beyond 2034. 'Because internet-based TV requires an expensive fast broadband contract, it cannot be free to air unless the Government pays for universal broadband to all homes, which seems unlikely. Therefore the only way to meet this welcome commitment is to upgrade and fund terrestrial TV to continue alongside paid-for streaming services for the foreseeable future.' Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive of the DPA, said: "We're so glad the Minister supports the need to ensure that everyone has access to trusted and popular channels like the BBC and ITV, and recognising the free to air nature of TV through an aerial as being an essential lifeline for many. 'We know the Minister also recognises that the cost of internet access is a barrier for many, as well as the usability of digital services, and the DPA therefore supports the campaign to keep the traditional TV broadcast past 2034, so that more people aren't pushed the wrong side of the digital divide without a safety net.' The Government last week announced £9.5million for local charities and councils to tackle digital inequality by improving people's tech skills and getting more people online.
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Widower continues tribunal claim against FOI Commissioner
Just weeks later, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died in February 2025. One of her dying wishes was that her husband, Ian, push on with the case. The Commissioner's office is defending the claim. READ MORE The tribunal claim also raises wider concerns about who watches the watchdogs. The Commissioner is responsible for the "enforcement and promotion of Scotland's freedom of information laws", including "handling appeals about the way in which Scottish public authorities respond to information requests". Given the need to avoid political interference, the job comes with a certain degree of independence. But that means the postholder can only be removed by a supermajority in the Scottish Parliament. According to the claim, Helen enjoyed a good working relationship with the previous Commissioner, Daren Fitzhenry, but that changed after the appointment of David Hamilton, a former chair of the Scottish Police Federation, in October 2023. The tribunal papers submitted by Helen state that the relationship deteriorated rapidly. They go on to allege that at a January 2024 meeting, Mr Hamilton proposed an internal award called 'Margaret the Fox', named after a recently retired colleague, which Helen and two female colleagues found offensive due to 'the use of the word fox [having] negative connotations when referring to women". The Commissioner, in his legal defence, says the award was a tribute to a colleague's fondness for foxes and had been welcomed by the person in question. The claim also says she raised broader concerns about the 'introduction of a police culture', including staff feeling pressured to laugh at the Commissioner's jokes. The defence disputes that such concerns were raised in the way described. During a return-to-work call after a period of absence, the claim alleges Helen was told she was "being precious", "obsessing", and that "people do not like her". The Commissioner denies saying that people disliked her. In meetings, she was reportedly told she was "not agile", lacked a "can-do attitude", and had "failed in her job". One meeting allegedly ended with her being told to "be quiet" after raising financial concerns – an incident contested in the Commissioner's defence. On March 14, she emailed Mr Hamilton, stating: "All members of staff, including myself, should be treated with consideration, dignity and respect while at work. Your comments about me are incorrect and are having a detrimental effect on me. "You are not treating me fairly, with dignity or respect. I feel intimidated by you and discriminated against. The way you treat me, in person, in meetings and in writing, is unacceptable and also makes me feel belittled, anxious and not valued." She lodged a formal grievance five days later, citing "unreasonable treatment" and alleging discrimination, harassment and intimidation. She was then absent due to ill health. Helen submitted the claim in December. She died in February. (Image: agency) According to her claim, Mr Hamilton initially responded by saying a "bespoke arrangement" would be created to ensure an independent process was in place, but only upon her return to work. In March, he assigned another senior official, line-managed by him, to act as her main contact – despite Helen requesting someone else. The Commissioner disputes that the arrangements were inappropriate and later agreed to appoint an external independent investigator, contingent on confirmation of Helen's fitness to engage. In June, he reiterated that he would proceed with the grievance only once she confirmed she was medically fit. He added he had sought legal advice. Helen responded that her ill health had been caused by his conduct and she was willing and able to participate in the process. The claim alleges that on July 19, Mr Hamilton phoned Helen's trade union representative to suggest she was ignoring emails – something her tribunal documents say was untrue. The Commissioner says he simply asked for emails to be acknowledged. That same day, she was told her laptop and phone would be collected due to cyber-security protocols applying to staff absent for more than four months. Her legal team say she was also blocked from using pre-approved annual leave to extend her period of full pay, with leave cancelled three times in April, May and August. The Commissioner says she was paid in lieu and suffered no loss. In a letter dated August 13, Mr Hamilton wrote that "on conclusion of the internal grievance process, it is likely I will be investigating performance and disciplinary procedures". The letter provided no details of the alleged issues. Tribunal documents say Helen found this particularly upsetting and reiterated her request for the grievance to be investigated without delay. By October 21, Helen had still not been contacted by the promised investigator. She emailed Mr Hamilton again to say the delay was harming her health and that she felt she was being punished for lodging a grievance. He replied that same day, saying he had just returned to work and would respond after catching up. Helen resigned three days later. READ MORE In her resignation letter, she wrote: "It is now more than seven months since I submitted a formal grievance against you and you have refused to allow any of my grievances to be dealt with." She said his behaviour during her absence and while working had caused "enormous damage" to her health and left her with "no alternative but to resign". There is no suggestion of a link between the treatment Helen received and her cancer diagnosis. Before her resignation, she is understood to have been offered a financial settlement by the Commissioner, but it was rejected. Helen's lawyer, Tony McGrade, argues that the Commissioner's handling of the grievance process was "significantly below accepted standards". He told The Herald: "This case highlights the real dangers in there being no procedure in place to allow grievances against officials such as the Scottish Information Commissioner to be independently investigated. "This means that the person against whom an allegation of discrimination or unfair treatment is made decides whether that is investigated. This is simply wrong." Under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the Scottish Information Commissioner is a statutory officeholder appointed by the Scottish Parliament and operates independently of government. Unlike most public sector roles, the Commissioner is not accountable to ministers or civil service structures, and complaints about their conduct are not subject to routine oversight. Removal from office requires a formal resolution passed by two-thirds of MSPs – a deliberately high threshold designed to protect the role from political interference. That resolution can be triggered if the Parliament is satisfied the Commissioner has breached the terms and conditions of office, or if it determines that it has lost confidence in the Commissioner's willingness, suitability or ability to do the job. Helen's husband believes this has created an accountability gap, making it extremely difficult for staff to challenge the Commissioner's actions through normal employment procedures or for Parliament to intervene when serious concerns arise. It is understood the matter has been raised informally with Alison Johnstone, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, who confirmed the limited powers available to intervene in what is treated as an internal employment matter. Those close to the case say the aim of the legal action is not financial compensation, but accountability – though Mr Hamilton strongly contests the allegations. The Commissioner said it "fully intends to defend its position in the Employment Tribunal" but that it "would be entirely wrong to make any comment on the substance of the claim until the Tribunal has considered the full evidence and issued a judgment." "The Commissioner will accordingly respect that process, being of the view that this is covered by the law relating to contempt of court, and will be making no comment until the appropriate time."
The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
Peru's president affirms sovereignty of Amazon River island as tensions with Colombia escalate
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Friday traveled to an Amazon River island at the center of a territorial dispute with Colombia, where she affirmed Peru's unquestionable sovereignty over the territory. The first visit from Boluarte to the island comes against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions with Colombia, whose president, Gustavo Petro, recently disavowed Peruvian jurisdiction over Santa Rosa Island. Security force chiefs and members of Parliament welcomed Boluarte and Cabinet ministers to the territory, where she sang the Peruvian national anthem as people waved red-and-white flags. 'Unfortunately, for several days now, unacceptable actions have been taking place that affect the brotherhood that unites our two nations and the border communities,' Boluarte said. 'Peru's sovereignty is not in dispute; the district of Santa Rosa de Loreto is Peruvian and will remain so.' Tensions between the neighboring countries escalated Tuesday, when Peruvian police arrested three Colombian men who were on the island doing land surveying work. Colombia's government on Thursday demanded the immediate release of the men after a Peruvian judge freed one of them but ordered the other two remain in jail for seven days while authorities investigate them for the alleged crime of attacking national sovereignty. Petro described the arrests as a 'kidnapping.' His government has said the detainees — a land surveyor and a boat driver — were conducting studies to measure the depth of bodies of water for a pier expansion in the Colombian border city of Leticia. Peruvian authorities said the workers were not authorized to carry out the measurements. The arrest of the two Colombians marks the third binational incident in the area since Petro denied Peru's jurisdiction over Santa Rosa Island on Aug. 5. Two days later, a Colombian military aircraft flew over the island, and on Monday, the former mayor of the Colombian city of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, planted a Colombian flag there. Police later removed the flag. About 3,000 people live in tiny Santa Rosa Island, which emerged in the middle of the Amazon River last century. Peru maintains it owns Santa Rosa Island based on treaties about a century old, but Colombia disputes that ownership because the island had not yet emerged from the river at the time. ____
