West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has slammed the government's plans to privatise Channel 4 which they will set out in next month's Queen's Speech. The Metro Mayor who represents the West of England which is home to one of the channel's key Cultural Hubs has called the decision "reckless" and described Channel 4 as "a victim of the culture wars".

Channel 4 bosses have called the news "disappointing". They have warned that some of its programmes could be put at risk by privatisation.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "This is an ideological decision by a Government that doesn't like public service broadcasting. But the British public does. We've been wowed by Channel 4 news coverage from Ukraine and we love the unique regional content - much of it made in the West of England - that they bring to our screens.

"I am deeply concerned about the possible threat to the Creative Hub in Bristol and the knock on effects across my region's amazing creative sector. This is a local issue for me but it's also a national one. I don't see why local jobs and brilliant content enjoyed by the country should fall victim to Tory Culture wars."

Lucy Powell, Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, added: "Selling off Channel 4, which doesn't cost the tax-payer a penny anyway, to what is likely to be a foreign company, is cultural vandalism. The West of England is an important hub for Channel 4 and this decision will cost jobs and opportunities and hit the wider British creative economy."

The appointment of Sir Ian Cheshire as the new chair of Channel 4 shows the Government remains "ideologically wedded to the selling-off of this great British broadcaster", according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris who fears "the West of England's creative sector will pay the price".

Sir Ian has long held links to the Conservative party after serving on a business taskforce for David Cameron's government. The appointment comes at a time of heightened uncertainty for the state-owned broadcaster as it awaits the outcome of a public consultation over whether it should be shifted into private hands. Channel 4 is owned by the public but funded by advertising. Metro Mayor Dan Norris is among those to call on the new chair to protect the public-service remit of Channel 4 including its Creative Hub in Bristol which opened in 2019. Sixty-six per cent of main channel-commissioned content came from Nation and Region indies last year. He said: "Channel 4 is unique. In recent weeks we've seen their first-class independent news coverage from Ukraine. They are also trail blazers in regional programming. We need to ensure the future of the Channel 4 Creative Hub in Bristol and I have written to Sir Ian to explain the vital role people from our region's excellent creative sector play. "The West of England is investing heavily in film and television and we have some amazing local independent production companies. The Government's looming privatisation threat could put this at risk. I fear he is a Conservative crony but I hope he will stand up to the Government and do what's right for Channel 4 and our region. I'll certainly be keeping up the pressure". Commissioning departments represented in the Creative Hub in Bristol include: Daytime, Drama, Factual and Popular Factual. Creative Diversity also has a presence in Bristol to help nurture and develop on and off-screen talent.