Scrap TV License

Gordon Henderson, who is the Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate for Sittingbourne & Sheppey, has called for a radical overhaul in the way the BBC is funded, including scrapping the TV licence fee. Mr Henderson made the call at a meeting with John Dickie, who is the BBC’s Head of Political & Parliamentary Affairs.

Mr Henderson said:

‘John Dickie invited me to a private lunch with a number of other Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidates representing marginal seats and asked for my opinion on the BBC in general, and on the forthcoming review of the BBC’s charter particular.

 ‘As it happens, I am a great supporter of the BBC, because I believe that this country needs a strong public service broadcaster offering a real alternative to commercial television. However, I told Mr Dickie that, the BBC should restrict itself to making programmes that commercial television companies either cannot, or, will not make.

‘The BBC should not be in the business of chasing ratings by pumping out soaps that could just as easily be made in the commercial sector, nor should it be operating national radio stations, such as Radio 3, which offer nothing that listeners cannot get from Classic FM.

 ‘I also told Mr Dickie that there should be a radical overhaul in the way the BBC is funded. My own preference is for the TV licence fee to be scrapped, with the BBC being funded from direct taxation. Of course, any funds made available to the BBC should be much more carefully monitored, controlled and, where possible, reduced.

‘For instance, I do not see the need for a public service broadcaster to have more than one television channel and a couple of nationwide radio stations. For instance, there seems little need of Radio 3, when classical music lovers can tune to Classic FM.

‘The Government should therefore fund only one BBC channel, two radio stations and a local radio network, which is one of its strengths.  If the Corporation wants to increase its activities, over and above that core service, then it should raise money for any such expansion by subscription, or, through advertising.’

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Contact details for Gordon Henderson

Day time telephone:             07866 719923

Evening telephone:             01795 669108

Fax:                              01795 666998