This week's decision by the Arts Council not to award Museums Sheffield with any funding is extremely disappointing. I strongly agree with the statement on the Museums Sheffield website that "England's fourth largest city, home to over half a million people and awash with creative talent and potential, deserves better." Compared to other core cities (see the table below) Sheffield already receives far less Arts Council funding per head of population and I'm concerned that this week's decision will compound this funding inequality.

Last Saturday I was fortunate to attend the opening of the new 'China: Journey to the East' exhibition at Weston Park, one of the three museums in my constituency run by Museums Sheffield. The exhibition is an outstanding example of the world class exhibitions that Museums Sheffield have consistently brought to Sheffield in recent years, and it is also incredibly popular. Over 2500 people visited on Saturday alone and it was a joy to see so many people there, and especially so many families. And this is not a one-off. From Vivienne Westwood to John Martin and Sheffield's own Kid Acne, Museums Sheffield have, with national arts organisations like the Victoria and Albert and British Museum, consistently delivered exhibitions that are culturally diverse, exciting and popular. 

As a result of this week's decision Museums Sheffield face a 30% reduction in their budget. They will have to downsize, their ability to bring in the world class exhibitions will be reduced, up to 45 experienced and talented people may lose their jobs and their educational programme will be significantly reduced. I fear that this decision will have negative knock-on effects for the whole of the city's art scene.

I've written to the Chief Executive of Arts Council England and to the Yorkshire Regional Director to express my opposition and to urge them to review Museums Sheffield's position and consider how the Arts Council can support them to avert the crisis they're now facing. Nobody wants to see culture and the arts in Sheffield suffer and I hope a way forward can be quickly found. 

Please help me and Museums Sheffield to make the case for culture in Sheffield. People power can make a difference with this kind of issue. There is a list of ways you can lobby for Museums Sheffield on their website at http://www.museums-sheffield.org.uk/blog/2012/1/help-us-make-the-case-for-culture-in-sheffield 

Wednesday 25th January - Today's announcement by the BBC Trust to reverse around half of the planned £15m cut to the budgets of BBC local radio stations, regional news and 5 live is good news for BBC local radio. 

I'm pleased that Lord Patten has listened to the public consultation and to those of us who have argued in parliament against the cuts. He is right to recognise that BBC local radio is so highly regarded because listeners value the localness of the content. People in Sheffield, including myself, enjoy listening to radio content about Sheffield, made and delivered with local accents, knowledge and experience.  

Sheffield has a strong city identity, and whilst we're also proud of being part of Yorkshire there is a big difference between our city identity and a regional Yorkshire identity. The original proposals for shared regional content with BBC Leeds and York would have provided less local news and views. This would have lowered audiences and created a spiral of decline for local radio. So the Trust is right to scale back the increase in shared regional programming, the job cuts in local newsrooms, and to give local radio stations the freedom to continue to provide specialist local services. 

Of course cuts still have to be made, but in particular I hope that this will mean BBC Radio Sheffield can continue to provide away football match commentary for our teams, and ensure that language programmes for ethnic minority communities can continue to be broadcast.

In December I was presented with a petition signed by over 5000 people who opposed the cuts to Radio Sheffield. I sent this in to the BBC consultation and I'm pleased that the Trust have listened to our call to rethink the cuts.

Wednesday 25th January - Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, has endorsed my campaign against the expansion of for-profit higher education.

Sally Hunt says "UCU is proud to have worked with Paul to raise the dangers of an expansion of for-profit higher education for his constituents, our members and higher education in general.

"Thousands of our members lobbied MPs and ministers in support of Paul's EDM and the very real concerns he has raised. He has helped put the issue of for-profits on the parliamentary agenda and made sure reforms weren't pushed through without a real consideration of their impact."

It's been great working with UCU to jointly campaign against the privatisation of our universities, and I'm pleased that we've been able to stop the Government's plans. I'm continuing to work with UCU and I'll still be pushing for a full debate to be held in parliament on the role of the for-profit sector in higher education. The Government must now clarify its position on higher education reform and its plans to attract US companies to run UK universities.

Sally Hunt wrote an excellent article yesterday on Left Foot Forward welcoming the Government's decision but warning that we need to remain vigilant and ensure that privatisation is not "brought in through the back door and without proper scrutiny". Read the full article here

Tuesday 24th January - I welcome today's reports that the Government has axed plans to give for-profit private companies a greater role in UK higher education. The Government's proposed legislation would have opened the door for private companies, including hedge funds and big American education companies, to set up new universities and access taxpayer funding.

This decision reflects the widespread and growing concern across the education sector about the Government's plans, and from MPs from all political parties. 134 MPs, including former Higher Education Minister David Lammy, as well as ex-Lib Dem leaders Charles Kennedy, Sir Menzies Campbell and current Lib Dem President Tim Farron signed my Early Day Motion on this issue last year which warned against the expansion of for-profit providers in the higher education sector. And in November the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, which I'm a member of, strongly criticised the Government's plans and said that expanding the role of the for-profit sector would introduce a real risk which would undermine the quality and reputation of UK higher education.

If the Higher Education Bill is now going to be scrapped then we need to remain vigilant to any move to introduce privatisation by stealth, without any legislation. I'll still be pushing for a full debate to be held in parliament on the role of the for-profit sector in higher education because the Government needs to clarify its position on higher education reform and its plans to attract US companies to run UK universities.

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