Government must not give up on IFNCs

Supporting PCS strikers - with PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka and NEC member Zita Holbourne

Just back from a series of meetings in Parliament discussing NUJ campaigns and activity - especially around the future of ITV and the Independently Financed News Consortia and the Digital Economy Bill, as well as liaising over public service cuts - like those at the BBC - with other unions.

The Digital Economy Bill is reaching a critical stage - and there is a fear the government will jettison the IFNCs in return for Tory support on copyright infringement and superfast broadband roll-out. We will oppose attempts to kick the IFNCs in to the long grass.

Yesterday I joined the PCS strike march and spoke at the rally in Westminster - an inspiring event - at which I was able to draw parallels between the attacks on the BBC and the wider public service - spending cuts, attacks on pensions, services between cut or privatised.

Also had fruitful discussions with a number of campaign groups about the lobbying against BBC cuts - and plans are being hatched. Watch this space. More than 100,000 people have now signed the petition and momentum is building.