A star is born
In 1964 the incoming Labour government set up a Select Committee to study the idea of allowing some broadcasting of Parliamentary proceedings. A three-day experiment followed in the House of Lords in 1968 but went no further.
The idea was raised again in 1972 but it was not until 1983 that the Lords finally agreed the cameras should be allowed in, with Lord Stockton (Harold MacMillan) stealing the show with the first broadcast in 1985. The House of Commons followed four years later.
So good luck to Cornwall councillor Andrew Wallis, who presents his first motion to a full council meeting tomorrow. Andrew is urging colleagues to trial the webcasting and broadcasting of council business.
At the moment, cameras and microphones are banned - Cornwall Council still lags well behind many other local authorities in the 21st century, despite last year's election of a younger, media-savvy cohort of councillors.
I hope it doesn't take 25 years for Andrew's proposals to become a reality.
I'm ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 29th Mar 2010, Phil wrote:Graham - I think Andrew's motion has a fair wind. Is it too much to ask that we get 21 st century technology? That way mere mortals could not not only watch but provide feedback before votes are taken.
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