Eastwood welcomes PM-BBC meeting over Radio Foyle cuts

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said pressure must be kept on the BBC to reverse the planned cuts to Radio Foyle.

Mr Eastwood was speaking following confirmation that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with the Director General and Chair of the BBC and discussed Radio Foyle.

Mr Eastwood, who also serves as vice-chair of the BBC All-Party Parliamentary Group, said it was of vital importance that local voices are heard in the media.

He added: "Following my challenge to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asking him to intervene and help arrest cuts to BBC Radio Foyle, I am pleased that he has directly met with BBC Director General Tim Davie and discussed the planned cuts and the BBC's responsibilities to local audiences.

"The BBC charter places a duty on the organisation to ensure that audiences can engage fully with local and regional issues. This decision to cut our local service is a blatant breach of that obligation.

 "I have invited Mr Davie to Derry so that he can see first-hand the effect these cuts will have on local people, and I will continue to keep the pressure on the BBC to show that Derry and the north-west will not simply give up Radio Foyle without a fight. Our local voices and stories deserve to be heard."