Parliament Cameras Should Film MPs From A More 'Flattering' Angle

TV Execs. Want To Film MPs From A More 'Flattering' Angle

Television executives have asked MPs to change the rules governing the broadcasting of Parliament so that senior politicians look better.

Appearing before the Commons committee on Monday, representatives from the BBC, ITV and Sky said the high angle that they were forced to film parliamentary debates from was outdated and did not make for engaging viewing.

The controller of BBC Parliament, Peter Knowles, noted that the "angles in the chambers are incredibly unflattering to the front benches".

"They are so high [the cameras] it means the front benchers are seen mainly though the top of their foreheads and top of their heads, and thats not a great look for many of us," he said.

He added: "You take a step back in time when you come to the coverage of the Commons."

Esme Wren from Sky said a lower camera angle would make the Commons more "compelling" to watch as it would enable viewers to see the "eye to eye" battles between ministers and their Labour opponents.

Aside from aesthetics and the desire for more dramatic TV, Knowles noted that many deaf people found it hard to follow Parliament as they could not see the mouths of the MPs when they spoke.

The idea may find favour with David Cameron, who has taken to sweeping his (mostly) thick hair back over the top of his head to cover up an emerging bald spot. Stresses of the job, no doubt.

However the suggestion was not exactly embraced by the committee, with Labour's Thomas Doherty predicting bad headlines if it were approved.

"You would like us to spend £50,000 of taxpayers money in order to make, what would appear to some people, our front benches look better," he said.

"Some of your print colleagues may find this to be an interesting Sunday story if we were agree to do this."

Doherty was also not overly keen on the idea of cameras being allowed into the voting lobbies, fearing it was simply an attempt by TV stations to "sex-up" their coverage.

"I would have thought going to war doesn't require any sexing up... are you saying that you don't think your pundits and news editors are able to adequately cover the decision we've got in theory about Iran, or the decision we took in Libya or that decision about Iraq?" he asked.

ITV's Simon Mears told Doherty he was merely suggesting it would be good for the public to "actually see their MPs voting" and to be able to picture what the pundits on screen were talking about when a vote happened.

"It's a bit like a Shakespearean play, it's all taking place off stage," he said.

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