Tory minister talks Radio One sell-off

Tory shadow broadcast minister Ed Vaizey has indicated that if the Conservatives win power they will sell off Radio One.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Vaizey said that Radio One’s licence should be put up for auction. “Radio One is not fulfilling its obligation to its audience,” he said.

“Its median age is those in their thirties when it should aim much more at teenagers and [those in] their twenties. There is then a good argument for the BBC to be rid of Radio 1 and give the commercial sector a chance to use the frequency.”

He added that the sale of Radio One would help alleviate the “unfair disparity” between the corporation and its commercial rivals.

The station’s frequency, estimated to be worth at least £100 million, would be a prize asset for the commercial sector.

However, a Conservative party spokesman later said: “During a discussion about the future of radio the subject of privatising radio one was raised.

“Ed Vaizey made it very clear during the interview that this was not Conservative Party policy and was not something the Party was considering.”