The BBC and other public service broadcasters must give the government air time if the circumstances are seen to be of sufficient importance, and requests from opposition leaders must also be considered.
In the case of the Suez Crisis, Eden refused to let Gaitskell give a reply, as he believed that the country should be united in times of conflict, and it would damage troops' morale if the government's efforts were put into question.
[2][1] Eden resigned as Prime Minister in January 1957 due to his poor handling of the Suez Crisis,[3] and was succeeded by fellow Conservative Harold Macmillan.
[4] After Labour defeated the Conservatives (then led by Alec Douglas-Home) in the 1964 general election, the new Prime Minister Harold Wilson inherited a large deficit.
A statement was released on 18 November 1967 by Chancellor of the Exchequer James Callaghan explaining the reduction, as well as outlining a 2.5% rise in interest rates and cuts to the defence budget.
The next day, Wilson made a televised broadcast to defend his decision, stating that: From now on, the pound abroad is worth 14% or so less in terms of other currencies.
[5] Wilson was widely mocked for his statement, and met fierce opposition by parliamentarians,[6] including members of his own cabinet, such as Callaghan (who resigned from his post soon after), and his deputy George Brown.
He was unable to resolve the mineworkers' dispute, and announced his intent to call a general election in a televised broadcast on 7 February 1974, stating: This time the strife has got to stop.
He said that: The government must and will continue to carry out policies that are consistent, determined, that don't chop or change and that brought about the present recovery in our fortunes.
[9][12] Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher made a response on 2 April (rescheduled from 31 March after the death of Airey Neave), ridiculing Callaghan's speech and encouraging the public to vote for her party at the election, which she went on to win.
[15][16] On 17 January 1991, John Major (who had succeeded Thatcher as Prime Minister the previous year) gave a broadcast about the decision to send British troops to fight in the Gulf War as part of Operation Desert Storm.
I know that this course of action has produced deep divisions of opinion in our country but I know also the British people will now be united in sending our armed forces our thoughts and prayers – they are the finest in the world and their families and all of Britain can have great pride in them.
[24] Johnson made a second broadcast on 10 May 2020 to announce the easing of lockdown measures in England, but this was met by a chorus of disapprovals from the leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The BBC defended its decision, saying that they originated from a time where filming the Budget Statement from inside the House of Commons was not possible, and the public would be able to access the information from various other outlets.