The British Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorris, has given the strongest indication yet that the licence fee funding for the BBC might be axed.
Secretary Dorris said that the BBC licence fee announcement ‘will be the last’, and that the fee would be frozen this year and next instead of rising with inflation. She also indicated that she wanted to find a new funding model for the BBC after the current licence fee funding deal expires in 2027l.
“The BBC wanted the fee to rise to over £180 by the end of the settlement. Instead, it will remain fixed at £159 until 1 April 2024,” she tweeted. “That’s more money in the pockets of pensioners; in the pockets of families who are struggling to make ends meet.”
The BBC wanted the fee to rise to over £180 by the end of the settlement.
Instead, it will remain fixed at £159 until 1 April 2024.
That’s more money in the pockets of pensioners; in the pockets of families who are struggling to make ends meet. pic.twitter.com/T1uXTirrt1
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 17, 2022
“The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors, are over,” she added. “Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content,” Secretary Dorris tweeted.
This licence fee announcement will be the last. The days of the elderly being threatened with prison sentences and bailiffs knocking on doors, are over.
Time now to discuss and debate new ways of funding, supporting and selling great British content. https://t.co/sXtK25q27H
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 16, 2022
She later doubled down on her stance, telling the Parliament that Britain needs “a BBC that is forward-looking and that commands support from across the breadth of the UK – not just the London bubble.
We need a BBC that is forward-looking and that commands support from across the breadth of the UK – not just the London bubble. pic.twitter.com/0zZNlrncwr
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) January 17, 2022
Despite growing criticisms of the BBC in relation to bias and a ‘woke’ leaning, there was a mixed reaction to the announcements on social media.
“What on earth are you talking about?? The vast majority of the population support the BBC. The vast majority of the population live nowhere near the “London bubble”,” one BBC supporter wrote.
What on earth are you talking about?? The vast majority of the population support the BBC. The vast majority of the population live nowhere near the “London bubble”
— Patrick Fogarty (@Pcf4) January 17, 2022
But in reply, critics said that the BBC should fund itself through advertising.
I don't know anyone who thinks we should keep license fee. BBC should be funded through advertising
— Anthony Dea (@antdea) January 17, 2022
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