The government will “undertake a review” of the BBC’s funding model and the licence fee will be frozen for the next two years, the culture secretary has said.
Making the announcement in the Commons, Nadine Dorries said it is time to ask the question whether “a mandatory licence fee is appropriate” and confirmed a government review into the matter will start “shortly”.
In a statement, the BBC said the decision is “disappointing” and “will necessitate tougher choices which will impact licence fee payers”.
On Sunday morning, the culture secretary tweeted: “This licence fee announcement will be the last.”
Licence fee to be frozen at £159 for next two years
Ms Dorries also confirmed the BBC licence fee will be frozen for the next two years and will rise in line with inflation for the four years after that.
It means the current £159 annual charge will remain in place until 2024 and equates to a severe real-terms cut in the corporation’s funding.
Meanwhile, Labour deemed the plans “cultural vandalism” and accused them of being a “distraction” from Boris Johnson’s “disintegrating leadership” amid the ongoing Downing Street ‘partygate’ scandal.
Earlier on Monday, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the broadcaster was being used as a pawn to distract from the Downing Street lockdown party saga, which Mr Johnson is facing calls to resign over.
Ms Dorries said the decision was being taken in light of Britons facing increasing living costs and that the new agreement gives the broadcaster certainty while protecting the public from the price hike.
“It’s a fair settlement for licence fee payers across the UK,” the culture secretary said.
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell questioned the timing of the announcement amid the Downing Street…
Source : skynews
