July Budget 2015: BBC must “make a contribution” to welfare cuts, says George Osborne on Andrew Marr Show July 5, 2015 The BBC “can make a contribution” to the costs of free television licences for the over-75s, George Osborne has said, responding to reports that the broadcaster would be required to stump up millions of pounds to keep the pensioner benefit going. The fee is currently paid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) but under [...]
BBC to cut more than 1,000 jobs to cover £150m licence fee losses July 2, 2015 The BBC will cut over 1,000 jobs due to a £150m shortfall in its licence fee income, director Lord Tony Hall has confirmed. Read more: BBC loses Olympic broadcast rights as Eurosport signs £922m deal With the number of households owning television sets falling as audience's consumption practices change, the broadcaster's income from license fee subscriptions [...]
Culture secretary says BBC licence free is “regressive” and hits poor hardest June 4, 2015 Culture secretary John Whittingdale has dubbed the BBC licence fee "regressive", saying that it hits the "poorest people" hardest. Speaking in Parliament, Mr Whittingdale told MPs that charging all viewers the same annual fee forced those on lower incomes to pay more for the BBC's television services. It is his most critical comment on the [...]
England ready to host 2022 World Cup if stripped from Qatar, says culture secretary John Whittingdale June 4, 2015 Culture secretary John Whittingdale has said England is ready to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament over corruption claims. Read more: Dyke urges Platini to lead World Cup boycott Answering a culture question the commons, the Conservative MP said England would be ready to host the tournament in seven years' [...]
David “London” Lammy and John “Flashy” Whittingdale recorded in Hansard May 20, 2015 Making sure the political back-and-forth is properly noted in Parliament’s official record – Hansard, is a difficult job. You might think though that just listing the names of the MPs, in the order in which that are sworn in, is one of the easier tasks that the minuters have to do. Apparently not. A quick [...]
David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle sets new government up for BBC clash as John Whittingdale named secretary for culture, media and sport May 11, 2015 David Cameron set his government on a collision course with the BBC yesterday, appointing John Whittingdale as the new secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Whittingdale, who chaired the culture, media and sport committee in the last parliament, has previously been highly critical of the licence fee system used to fund the public [...]
As licence fee critic John Whittingdale is made culture secretary, is this bad news for the BBC? May 11, 2015 Sam Bowman, deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes John Whittingdale has described the licence fee as being “worse than a poll tax,” and wants to decriminalise non-payment. That is a good idea: 10 per cent of magistrate court cases are for licence fee non-payment. Every week that means 3,000 people are fined [...]