Future of BBC licence fee thrown into fresh doubt as Keir Starmer says he's keeping an ‘open mind' on its future
TV TAX DOUBT Future of BBC licence fee thrown into fresh doubt as Keir Starmer says he's keeping an 'open mind' on its future
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE future of the BBC licence fee was last night thrown into doubt as Sir Keir Starmer said he kept an 'open mind' about it.
A review into the Corporation's charter is currently underway and is looking at areas including the funding model.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
2
Keir Starmer cast doubt on the future of the BBC licence fee by saying he's keeping an 'open mind' about it
Credit: AFP
The compulsory £174.50 telly tax has come under criticism in an age of more competition from other broadcasters and streaming platforms.
Culture Select Committee chair Dame Caroline Dineage yesterday challenged the PM on the future of the 'regressive tax'.
The PM replied: 'We're going through the review and it'll obviously come to its conclusion, and we keep an open mind on what we need to do with the licence fee.
"But we are working closely with the BBC.'
The BBC has recently drawn anger from government over its handling of the Gregg Wallace scandal and its reporting on the war in Gaza.
The broadcaster's annual report released earlier this month revealed competition from streaming services has created a "moment of real jeopardy for the sector".
An estimated 300,000 households have stopped paying.
The report revealed 23.8m licences were in force at the end of the year, down from 24.1m in 2023-24.
When do you need a TV Licence?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
26 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Aldi selling no-effort household gadget that cuts cleaning time in half
Plus, we share easy ways to save at Aldi NO MUSS, NO FUSS Aldi selling no-effort household gadget that cuts cleaning time in half ALDI is selling a no-effort household gadget that can help lessen the load of your household chores. The bargain retailer is currently selling a product that can help to get rid of pesky pet hair that can build up on blankets and other bedding. Advertisement 1 The pet hair dissolver promises to get rid of pet hair Vamoosh Pet Hair Dissolver can be found in stores' middle aisle, which is home to a number of limited edition bargain products. The German discounter releases these products every Thursday and Sunday as part of its Special Buy range. The sachets are placed in the dispenser drawer of your washing machine and then customers run the pet blankets on a hot long cycle along with detergent. Shoppers can expect to pay £3.95 for the cleaning product at Aldi. Advertisement Other retailers such as The Range and Pets at Home charge £4 for the product. Ocado is currently running an offer where shoppers can pick up the sachets for £3.60. Reviews left by customers who have previously bought the product said there were "no sign" of pet hairs on their animals' bed after using it. If you are keen to shop for the product at Aldi, you will need to be quick, as, like all other Special Buy products, once it's gone, it's gone. Advertisement And it is not the only product shoppers are keen to get their hands on. Bargain hunters have been going wild for a £19.99 multicolour light pillar that is perfect for brightening up a bedroom. Aldi urgently recalls £3.29 freezer essential over dangerous disease that affects 1 in 100 of Brits The store is also selling a £3.99 dupe for Olaplex that is £24 cheaper than the branded version. And those keen to spruce up their garden should keep their eyes peeled for a £4.99 booze trolley, ideal for summer parties. Advertisement Aldi is not the only supermarket offering savings this summer. Shoppers have also been flocking to B&M to get their hands on a stylish table and chair set scanning for £40 instead of £110. How to save money at Aldi Unlike other major grocers, Aldi does not have a rewards or point card system but that does not mean you cannot save on your shop. Every week the store releases a list of special buys , which are unique bargain products you find online at Aldi and in store. Advertisement The store releases a fresh range of deals every Thursday and Sunday, so be sure to check regularly to see what's new. Meanwhile, the store also regularly sells fruit and vegetables at highly discounted prices, as part of its 'super six' deal. It also does weekly saving offers on typically pricey items such as meat and fish.
Daily Mirror
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer accused of ignoring veterans for a year as Nuked Blood Scandal grows
Keir Starmer has been warned the Nuked Blood Scandal is growing out of control as veterans say he has ignored requests to meet them for a year The Prime Minister has been accused of ignoring the growing Nuked Blood Scandal since coming to office, with more than 50 veterans dying without justice on his watch. More than 2,000 survivors want the truth about a government programme of blood and urine testing of troops while they were being ordered to take part in nuclear weapons trials during the Cold War. The medical data that was gathered is now missing from their personnel files, denying them war pensions, compensation, and the truth about whether radiation left their families with a poisonous genetic legacy of cancers, blood disorders, miscarriages and birth defects. Keir Starmer was invited to meet campaigners and discuss their calls for a public inquiry within days of winning the general election last year, but his correspondence team did not even acknowledge the request. Since then his government has refused to tell Parliament about evidence it has now found of orders for the long-denied blood tests, serving government lawyers have been identified as having misled courts and judges, and his own officials have admitted scientists may have been conducting the experiments without medical supervision. Alan Owen, founder of nuclear veteran campaign group LABRATS, said: "This is the longest and worst scandal in British history. Long-denied allegations of using our own troops in radiation experiments are being proven with a growing pile of evidence, an expensive lawsuit, and a police complaint. But it seems we're not even on his to-do list." He added: "Either the PM is ignoring a problem that really needs his attention before it gets any worse, or someone is keeping this off his desk on purpose. Either way, we hear about another veteran dying every single week. These men have an average age of 87, a host of chronic health conditions, and they deserve better than this." The PM was tackled on the scandal by backbench Labour MP Emma Lewell in his first appearance at the Despatch Box after the election in July last year, and urged to hold an inquiry. Instead he promised her a meeting with Veterans Minister Al Carns. He has twice met with campaigners, but while he has ordered officials to review 1m pages of archive documents, he has refused all requests to say what he has found. The minister has ordered the release of a further 10,000 classified documents, thought to include at least 200,000 pages, but there is no date for their publication. Veteran Brian Unthank, 87, who has had 96 skin cancers, two bouts of bladder cancer and is now dealing with an "unusual" prostate cancer, said: "All I want is for Starmer to stand up, admit they got it wrong, apologise and find a way to sort it. But every promise we've ever had has been broken." Starmer was in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet in 2019 when he signed off on a manifesto pledge to pay survivors £50,000 compensation, but all mention of nuclear veterans was removed from Labour's latest version. Meanwhile nearly 4.8m people have seen a viral video about Labour's broken promises, with footage of deputy leader Angela Rayner, Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard all demanding, while in Opposition, that the Tories order payouts. The government has expanded the criteria for the nuclear test medal after the Mirror highlighted the story of Operation Bagpipes hero Pete Peters, but so far he is the only veteran to have benefited. The minister has been asked to expand it for hundreds more crews who were ordered to take part in sampling missions through the nuclear tests of other nations, but this week he refused to say when they would receive it. Colin Duncan, who was a RAF sergeant in 543 Squadron when planes were sent through the clouds of French hyrdogen bombs in 1974, is fighting for the medal to be granted to comrades who suffer the same horrific pattern of illnesses. "We thought the minister was considering new criteria, but I'm not surprised to hear he's doing nothing of the sort," said Colin, 86, of Chipping Sodbury. "There must be a couple of thousand veterans the MoD is ignoring." If more veterans qualify for the medal, they may also need to be included in long-term health studies which the government relies on to refuse war pensions, which could alter their findings. No10 was contacted for comment.
The National
40 minutes ago
- The National
Led by Donkeys stage Gaza protest outside Labour HQ
On Tuesday, Led by Donkeys erected a large poster opposite the Labour Party HQ in London, which showed an image of the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. On the poster were the words: "Protesting this isn't terrorism." (Image: Led By Donkeys, via Twitter/X) Led By Donkeys said: "We've turned their street into Jabaliya camp in Gaza. A genocide is happening, but the Labour government is supplying weapons, intelligence and diplomatic cover to the perpetrator. "Protesting this is not terrorism." READ MORE: 'If not now, when?': Cabinet ministers pressure Keir Starmer to recognise Palestine The campaign group later said two activists had been arrested and removed by police, sharing an image of a man being taken away by the police. (Image: Led By Donkeys, via Twitter/X) The Met Police has been contacted for further information. The reference to "terrorism" likely refers to the designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, which was brought in by the Labour Government earlier this month. It means that membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. READ MORE: Seamus Logan: I've been an SNP MP for a year. Here's what it's been like However, condemning Israeli actions in Gaza or showing support for Palestine does not automatically create any connection to a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action. According to campaign group Defend Our Juries, nearly 200 people have been arrested within a fortnight in the UK under terror law since the proscription of Palestine Action came into effect. Most recently in Scotland, three people were arrested under the Terrorism Act following a national pro-Palestine demonstration on Saturday. The men, aged 78, 60 and 58, were arrested in Edinburgh "for showing support for a proscribed organisation". The Labour Party has been contacted for comment.
