Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Vince Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray]

We have the local news fund and the local news strategy. This is an issue right across the country, and we need to ensure that we have a thriving local journalistic community so that we can get those stories to people and so that the news is trusted and trustworthy. The BBC obviously plays a key role in that, and the BBC charter process is investigating how it can support that infrastructure and ecosystem across the country. I would be very happy to work with the hon. Gentleman in sharing his experience to see what we can do to help his local area and areas across all regions across the country. I want to emphasise from the Dispatch Box, too, that you do not have to be white to be English—the hon. Gentleman is right to say that—although you do have to be tight to be Scottish. [Laughter.]

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

From Scotland to Harlow, Mr Speaker. Online news sites like Your Harlow, which has provided thousands of news articles to Harlow residents across the years, rely on people visiting their site for advertising revenue, but there is a danger posed by AI summaries, particularly when some of those summaries are wrong. What thought has the Minister given to the impact of AI summaries on local news sources like Your Harlow?

[Ian Murray]

The Government are actively looking at this issue, because we know from experience—we always use the Southport example—that when there are incidents or crisis moments across the country, people turn to their local news outlets and the BBC to find the truth because they are sceptical of what they are reading. In the meantime, anyone who is reading these AI summaries online should double-check with their local newspapers and the sources they are given to ensure that that information is true. What happens, of course, is the old adage: a lie is halfway around the world before the truth has got its boots on. That happens much faster now with social media. I am delighted that my hon. Friend has broken his habit in the House by at least mentioning Harlow in his question.