London (Parliament News) – Sir Keir Starmer has stated he is “committed” to maintaining the BBC licence fee.
Will Keir Starmer Uphold the BBC Licence Fee?
The Prime Minister told journalists at the NATO summit in Washington that he would keep the annual cost of £169.50. The corporation’s charter is up for revival in 2027, and Rishi Sunak had stated that the Tories would look at alternative funding models.
Criticizers of the licence fee believe the BBC should be transferred to a subscription model, like Netflix, which would suggest people would only be able to access the broadcaster’s channels on TV and radio if they spent. It is the first time the Prime Minister has remarked on future funding arrangements for the corporation.
How Firm is Starmer’s Support for the BBC?
Questioned whether he would be open to other allocation models for the corporation, he stated: “We’ve committed in our manifesto to… the BBC and to the licensing scheme. “It comes up I think from remembering in 2027, so obviously there’s going to be some more thought between now and then, but we are dedicated to the BBC and we are committed to the licensing arrangements.”
How Does Labour Plan to Protect the BBC?
While in opposition Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, accused the Tories under Boris Johnson of promoting an “anti-media and anti-BBC feeling” on social media by intimidating to scrap the licence fee. In an article for LabourList, when she was standing to be party chair, Ms Nandy said she Desired to defend the “free media” like the BBC and stated she wanted to “protect” the licence fee. She called for a new system for the BBC, under which it would be “owned and controlled by licence fee holders” to stop the threat of government interference.
“This anti-media and anti-BBC sentiment is all over social media and goes all the way to No 10, with its hints that not only will non-payment of the franchise fee be decriminalised but it could be scrapped altogether,” stated Ms Nandy. “But instead of joining in the pile-on, we need to be supporting and defending free media, and particularly the BBC. Because, for all of its imperfections, it is based on a licence fee that delivers it with the basis to speak truth to power.”
Why Does Starmer Oppose Changes to BBC Funding?
She said that she would “protect” the licence fee to assure the BBC was held to ransom over appointments and funding. “Alongside this, I would help measures to make news media more accountable to the people it serves, including analysing mutualisation of parts of the corporation,” stated Ms Nandy.
“To preserve the BBC as an institution, it must be accountable to those who support it – the British people. Instead of tokenistic talk with the people who pay for it, and backroom negotiations with the administration, the BBC should move to a model of being possessed and directed by licence fee holders – who can help determine the trade-offs that the BBC must make to secure its future.
“This will represent a new structure for the BBC board that concentrates on genuine public representation and participation – and greater adherence to transparency. This will support greater independence from the administration, and protection from the Trump-like attack on free and open media that this government wants to pursue.”
Sir Keir also refused to commit to meeting JK Rowling to examine trans rights within the first 100 days of his premiership. The Harry Potter author has requested to meet the Prime Minister to impress on him the significance of safe spaces for women and the risks of puberty blockers.
Questioned why he had appointed a women’s minister who cannot describe a woman, he stated: “I’ve set out our position on this I don’t know how many times in the campaign and it’s the same now as it was then.”