Have you noticed that when MPs are being challenged, about Partygate, for instance, or some other example of dishonesty or corruption, they like to insist that people in the 'real world' just don't care.  

They often start with the word "look." It makes them sound direct, clear, no messing about, saying it as it is, in control.

Look. People in the real world just don't care about parties.
Look. People in the real world just don't care about cake.
Look. People in the real world just don't care who owns a channel.

'Real people don't care about No 10 lockdown parties, says Commons leader Mark Spencer' 

'The new Commons leader has been slammed for claiming people in the “real world” don’t care about Partygate.

Mark Spencer, the newly-appointed Commons leader, told BBC Radio Nottingham that “when you get out into the real world and you talk to real people” they have told him “what really matters” is the cost of their energy bills, the NHS backlog, and the economy.

The Sherwood MP, who described his new role as a “cool job”, added: "It's fair to say Downing Street didn't get everything right but let's focus on the real world here."' (via bbc.co.uk)

It's a clever trick.  It makes everyone who does care seem as if they are somehow not living in the real world. Even when living in the real world meant millions of us kept to Covid rules to protect each other, and were not able to be with people we love - even when they were ill or dying.

Who owns Channel 4 matters. 

It matters that it's ours.

"(Channel 4 s) unique public service model guarantees a meaningful commitment to talent, people and ideas in places like West Yorkshire and beyond. From Bristol to Bradford, Leeds to Lincoln, Glasgow to Gwynedd"

...

"Channel 4’s remit ensures that the programming reflects the lives of people across the vibrant and diverse Britain that we are all proud to call home."

...

"Across the North, there was an excitement, with the next generation at the very forefront of our minds – a publicly owned Channel 4 bringing skills and training opportunities, apprenticeships and a genuine offer to harbour independent talent."

...

"Your decision to privatise threatens the Channel 4 we know and love, its commitment to nations and regions and the UK’s unique, diverse and extraordinary creative sectors and independents.
(From an open letter organised by West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin and co signed by other mayors inc Andy Burnham, Dan Jarvis, Sadiq Khan, Steve Rotheram, Jamie Driscoll and Dr Nik Johnson)

Real people care about opportunities, apprenticeships, and developing skills. 

Real people care about having their talents and the talents of their children, nurtured and supported so they can thrive and make their way in the world.

Real people care when a channel that is supposed to represent them and their communities stops doing so when a new owner decides it's not so profitable after all - that it's too 'niche'

Real people care that their elected government representatives are held to account by independent journalism; that their dishonesty is scrutinised; that they are operating effectively, with integrity and in our best interests.

Real people want independent journalists to challenge the government about the cost of their energy bills, the NHS backlog, and the economy - because we're worried. 

Often our elected politicians seem like they know precious little about living in the real world.

We need a publicly owned broadcaster whose remit is to show that the real world looks very different depending on whose shoes you're standing in. 

We need creative, fresh, bold programming that reflects the truth of this. We need risks to be taken on new voices that speak the truth of this.

We need our publicly owned broadcaster not to fall into the hands of those who think that the only thing that really matters 

is profit.

Nadine Dorries wrote for today's Mail on Sunday that the massive upset in response to the sell off is just 'lazy, overwrought and ill-informed rhetoric from the Leftie luvvie * mob'

Which sounds, well, overwrought - and an insult to everyone who rightly cares.  (I've left a word out of that quote - it's a shameful word to use in this context) 

People who know what they're talking about are saying what they know to be true - in the real world.

Please keep signing and sharing