LOCAL Lib Dem MEP Chris Huhne says government ministers are treating broadcasters as if they are there to promote government policy.
Former journalist Mr Huhne said he was astonished to hear Beverley Hughes, the child protection minister, objecting to a television programme because it did not help to generate public confidence in government policy.
Ms Hughes was speaking on BBC Radio Four about the Channel 4 television programme, Brass Eye.
The TV programme satirised media handling of paedophilia and led to many protests from viewers.
Ms Hughes told the Today programme interviewer, James Naughtie, that she was trying to generate a wider public debate on child protection and how to generate public confidence and the Channel 4 programme was not helpful.
Mr Huhne said the promotion of government policy on anything, however worthy, was not the broadcasters' job.
Their job was to be an independent source of information and comment.
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