One of the candidates to chair the has called for a “proper hearing” on .
Jesse Norman, who is one of five Tory MPs vying for the role, said he would seek to raise the issue of the state broadcaster’s regional spending.
The Post is campaigning for the to raised by Midland licence fee-payers back into the region – presently, more than 90 per cent of that raised in this region is spent elsewhere.
Mr Norman (Con Hereford South) told the Post: “I am a West Midland MP, I am aware of the concern and I think it deserves proper hearing and discussion.
“I am the only Member of Parliament that has talked about localisation in their pitch, so I am taking the issue very seriously.”
Mr Norman is competing with fellow Conservatives Damian Green, Jason McCartney, Graham Stuart and Damian Collin for the role – with the result expected on Wednesday, June 17.
It comes at a key time with the BBC, with negotiations over the renewal of the 10-year charter to take place later this year.
Pressure is rising on the publicly-funded broadcaster to invest more fairly with only 8.5 per cent of the £942 million raised in the Midlands last year reinvested in the region.
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Mr Norman added: “There is an issue here. It needs proper public consideration and I have already drawn attention to that in the pitch I have made.
“Hopefully, the Commons will hear that because I understand there is concern across the Midlands.”
For every family paying a licence fee in this region, the BBC spends just £12 while it invests £80 in the North, £122 in Wales and £757 in London.
Presently, no prime-time television is made in this region – which has a similar population to the Netherlands – and campaigners and MPs say it is vital that production returns to the area.
BBC executives have been silent on that, but have announced more HR roles moving to Birmingham.
In all, about 300 jobs are being moved to the Mailbox.