BBC PARLIAMENT FACES FURTHER CUTS FROM SEPTEMBER

New reports from the Financial Times suggest BBC Parliament channel will face more cuts from this September.

The Financial Times report that "Staffing levels at the channel, which was launched in 1998, are set to be cut to single figures while nearly all original programming will come to an end, the people said."

BBC Parliament’s daily original programming will also end. The Day and Week in Parliament programmes will be replaced with a weekly highlights programme, which will air every Friday on BBC Two.

Political speeches and lectures will no longer be covered by BBC Parliament. There is also expected to be a significant reduction in the channel’s coverage of the House of Lords and select committees.

A BBC spokesperson said: "BBC Parliament will continue to provide substantial coverage of the UK’s parliaments and assemblies.” One insider added that coverage of party conferences would continue through news bulletins and the rolling BBC News Channel. Parliament is also now live streamed through its official website."