RICHARD TICE has demanded the BBC reassess its licence fee structure as Britons can get almost everything the broadcaster offers elsewhere.
Former Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice said Brits should not be forced to pay a fixed amount for a fixed set of TV services. Speaking to the campaign Defund the BBC, Mr Tice said: “In terms of day to day, it’s professional and I’ve actually rarely to had anything to grumble about in terms of the day to day operational treatment.
“Of course, both sides will argue they are a bit biased one way or the other.
“I think it’s not so much that, it’s about the overall concept of forcing people in today’s world to pay a fixed amount for a series of services that frankly many people no longer want.
“It just feels in today’s world when there’s so much competition, you can get effectively almost all of what the BBC offers from other people.
“That’s how competition works.
“But I think that’s why there needs to be a proper reassessment and that’s why we at the Brexit Party, one of our policies was to have a relook at the BBC licence fee structure.”
His comments come as the Culture Secretary has said he does not want to send a signal that it is legitimate to not pay the TV licence.
Oliver Dowden made the comment to MPs as the Government prepares to publish its response to a consultation on decriminalisation.
He also denied that decriminalising licence fee evasion was an agenda set out by Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s chief adviser.
The BBC has warned that switching to a civil system would cost the broadcaster more than £200million a year.
“I do think there are major challenges around decriminalisation which we continue to consider,” Mr Dowden told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
“I am concerned that… we do not send a signal that it’s acceptable not to pay your TV licence. So, I’d be concerned around sending signals around non-payment.”