Shadow Culture Minister Dan Jarvis has vowed to safeguard the long-term future of the National Media Museum as he hailed the Telegraph & Argus campaign to save it from closure.

During a visit to the museum, the Labour MP pledged to do “all he can” to make sure the site was safe for future generations, as he accused the Government of “playing Russian roulette” with its future.

But he praised the T&A’s Stop The Cut campaign, which started when Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group, said that one of its three northern museums – York’s Railway Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester are the others – could close if its funding was slashed.

The campaign attracted names such as Hollywood producer Martin Scorsese, Monty Python stars Michael Palin and Terry Jones, world-famous artist David Hockney and legendary actor John Hurt among others, as well as a 45,000-signature petition by people across Bradford.

Mr Jarvis said: “I want to thank the T&A and all the people locally and across the region who stood up and said ‘this is something we care about, this is something important, this is a real asset for our city and region’,” said Mr Jarvis, who first visited the museum 30 years ago.

“I do not believe that without that strong level of support – the campaigns that were run here and in Parliament – we would have achieved the result that we achieved for all three museums.

“There was a lot of concern and it seemed to me that the Government was playing Russian roulette with these museums. What that did, in a positive sense, was focus people’s minds on why these museums are important.

“The National Media Museum is a huge part of Bradford and people come from far and wide to enjoy its exhibitions. It is part of our culture and our heritage.”

In May, a Government spending review confirmed that museums will get a five per cent funding cut – less than the ten per cent initially feared.

But Mr Jarvis said he would meet Mr Blatchford early next month once the implications of the cash cut had been assessed.

“I will do whatever I can to support the museum and to work with the Government to make sure it has the funding it needs so it has a sustainable long-term future,” he said.

The Barnsley Central MP said he had also discussed the museum’s future plans with its management, as he vowed to return with his children.

“It is a national asset and it’s the Government’s responsibility to make sure it’s properly funded for the long-term. Every museum across the country has got to look at its offer to reach out to audiences across the country.

“There are some exciting attractions coming here. The second Hobbit film will be shown at the Imax, which will be hugely popular and I’m sure thousands of people will come here to see it.

“It is also the 50th anniversary of Dr Who this year and in October there will be an exhibition here to celebrate that.”