It is not the monarchy that - in 1997 - still doesn't know what
It is not the monarchy that - in 1997 - still doesn't know what to do about the millennium. It is not monarchy that is misgoverning this country!Edwin: These are strong words.Charles: I feel strongly. And as a farmer, I feel very strongly that the Government is in the dock over BSE. Only this week we have heard that Brussels is thinking of prosecuting Douglas Hogg for negligence and mishandling of the beef crisis. That sound you can hear is the approving roar from thousands of British farmers. If we have come to a state where only Brussels can tell the Tories what they have done wrong, what price democracy?An intriguing debate, I think you'll agree More of it some other time, perhaps.. The last London radio licence will be awarded tomorrow by the Radio Authority.
The capital is not exactly holding its breath with excitement: we have 14 London-wide stations already. What is the point? But here they are missing a remarkable opportunity for the renaissance of democracy in a great city. The winner is likely to be yet another music station, and whatever it promises, it will probably end up playing middle-of-the-road something or other. You might think there was plenty of room for 15 radio stations for different niches and interests.
But niche radio in the capital has fallen on its face after the disastrous flop of Viva!, the feminist chic station; and Premier, the daft Christian station, sank to only 1 per cent audience share. Money is made in the mainstream. So the Radio Authority is expected to be unadventurous with this last licence (which costs only some pounds 70,000 - this is not an auction). Not much hope for the French language station for "francophones and francophiles" - such a rare breed, they might be cheaper to contact by phone. Nor for two children's stations, since the last lot of children to gather round the bakelite set for Uncle Mac and Children's Hour ("Are you sitting comfortably?") are now the target audience for another bidder, Saga, for the oldies. Nor for the gay and lesbian bidder; the idea that sexual orientation dictates musical taste seems a bit insultingly determinist.So what does London really need? What could the Radio Authority do? It could split the licence into at least 12 small stations and offer them to local community groups. Audiences might be small, but at least London would get a service it desperately needs.The nation grumbles resentfully about its capital: we who live in London have it all. We suck investment, prestige projects and national attention away from the poor, benighted provinces.