15-06-2022, 08:34 PM
Fundamentally this debate is really just a reflection of the problems with the asymmetric nature of regional government in the UK - where you have some parts with genuinely powerful devolved governments (Scotland, Wales, NI), some parts with 'devolved' organisations with some low-level powers (London, areas with Combined Authorities) and some parts with nothing other than weak local government (most of non-metropolitan England). The differing nature of the political arrangements in different parts of the country mean that local news in different areas has differing purposes. Reporting Scotland, Wales Today and Newsline are effectively national news programmes in their own right - a large part of their programmes are dedicated to the kinds of stories that, in England, would be on the main network bulletins. While English regional news programmes aren't all fluff as some might dismiss them as, even London isn't really covering any political body with much meaningful power. The stories just aren't on the same grade. Britain just isn't like Germany or Spain where the entire country is covered by regional government of equal competencies, so you can't really compare English regions like-for-like with the devolved nations.
Plus, it's also worth noting that the national studio sets in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast are all multi-use. Scotland's set is used by current affairs programming and some Sport programmes, Wales's set is shared with Newyddion and NI's set is also shared with current affairs programming. This means the set budgets are, to some extent, coming out of multiple pots. The only programme that English regional sets are shared with are the Politics X shows and English regional politicals have always operated on a shoestring budget (because, again, they aren't covering anything more powerful than a County Council) - they aren't contributing to the set budget.
Plus, it's also worth noting that the national studio sets in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast are all multi-use. Scotland's set is used by current affairs programming and some Sport programmes, Wales's set is shared with Newyddion and NI's set is also shared with current affairs programming. This means the set budgets are, to some extent, coming out of multiple pots. The only programme that English regional sets are shared with are the Politics X shows and English regional politicals have always operated on a shoestring budget (because, again, they aren't covering anything more powerful than a County Council) - they aren't contributing to the set budget.