What Were The Reasons In Favour Of The Televising Of Parliament?

Television cameras were allowed into the Commons for the first time in 1989 after a vote was won by a majority of 54 in favour of the move.

The proponents, a strong one of whom was Austin Mitchell MP, argued that televising the Commons would make it more accountable to the public and encourage further participation in politics by the general public. It would also perform an important educational function in revealing to the public the procedures and conventions of the House and informing about the key political issues of the day. "TV could and perhaps should make life a little more difficult for MPs, but only by creating a wider audience to see them do their job," said Austin Mitchell. Proponents argued that televising would serve to halt the 20th Century decline of parliament by publicising its activities. In addition, the House of Commons was behind many democracies that had already allowed their proceedings to be televised.