Furious MPs are calling of the BBC licence fee to be scrapped following the “chaotic handling” of the Gary Lineker row.
Lineker who is the BBC’s highest paid star earns £1.35 million year sparked controversy after he wrote on Twitter that the government’s plans on migrants crossing the English Channel is “immeasurably cruel” then compared to Nazi Germany.
Ethe former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has made calls for the £159 a year licence fee to be scrapped.
He told GB News, “I have long thought that the licence fee is a constraint on the BBC as it stops it earning revenues by subscriptions on the iPlayer, or by taking advertising.
“It leads to a heavily regulated media based around what the BBC needs and what is needed for a state-funded channel.
“And so, yes, I’m saying the licence fee has passed its sell-by date and it needs to go.”
Rees-Mogg added, “There are so many different ways of watching recorded programmes now that you don’t invariably need a licence fee.
“I certainly wouldn’t pay a licence fee if you don’t need it.”
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said, “The licence fee is a decades out of date, regressive tax which people shouldn’t have to pay simply to watch TV.
“I’ve long called for it to be scrapped. This self-inflicted chaos and their obvious unwillingness to enforce impartiality will only strengthen calls for the fee to go.”
Commenting on Rees-Mogg’s remarks, Tory MP Tom Hunt added: “Sadly this has also been my view for some time.
“Times have changed. I sense there is growing support for moving away from the coercive nature of the licence fee.
“Clearly the chaotic handling of the Lineker affair hasn’t covered them in glory but it’s bigger than just that.”
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said, “The licence fee is a decades out of date, regressive tax which people shouldn’t have to pay simply to watch TV.
“I’ve long called for it to be scrapped.
“This self-inflicted chaos and their obvious unwillingness to enforce impartiality will only strengthen calls for the fee to go.”
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