House of Commons - First broadcast 1975

The rulers of our land did not rush into letting us hear what they were up to. Reith, when DG of the BBC in the twenties, thought it might be a good idea for listeners to hear their elected members speak. It was so logical that it was unthinkable.

Thirty years later, when they opened the new Commons Chamber, they wired up microphones, just in case. MPs accordingly rushed into things. Well, they certainly rushed into making reports, and launched very serious inquiries. Then they voted against it. 

Eventually, in February 1975, they said yes. Well, they said yes to an experiment. On radio only. A toe truly dipped in water. Shallow water. Little did they realise that radio is actually the most exposing medium of all.

The first tentative steps were taken on 9th June, 1975. This broadcast experiment was deemed a success, despite normal folk being variously surprised or annoyed at the din heard. After the usual flood of reports, MPs agreed to the arrangements being sustained. They thought that broadcasting had increased public interest in Parliament. Just maybe no-one could quite believe what they were hearing. 

 On 3rd April 1978, the permanent broadcasting of the Commons began. The opening feature saw the Secretary of State for Wales answering questions about the Welsh language. Hear, hear.

This audio is the 1975 experimental first broadcast from the BBC. IRN also supplied Commons coverage for commercial radio. Besides the airing of clips on commercial stations' news bulletins, some did carry live coverage on key occasions. (Pic of IRN's OB caravan used for coverage)