‘It’s a REGRESSIVE TAX!’ DUP’s pledge to scrap BBC TV licence fee may happen in Tory deal
TV licences could be abolished if the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) get their way in a parliamentary deal with the Tory party.
The DUP is planning to scrap the TV licence
DUP officials have long pledged for the removal of the BBC imposed charge which the party calls a "regressive tax".
However, the move, which would save families almost £150 a year, has been criticised by Labour
Jeremy Corbyn’s team have vowed to vote down any major overhaul of the publicly-funded BBC.
The TV licence fee is a highly regressive tax which was designed for a different era
Deputy leader Tom Watson wrote to Tory counterpart Karen Bradley calling for her to “fight hard” to make sure DUP plans are not on the table as part of Theresa May’s desperate bid to hold on to power.
As part of the DUP’s six election pledges, they plan to scrap the £3.7billion a year licence fee.
The Northern Ireland party said: “The TV licence fee is a highly regressive tax which was designed for a different era and a world of communications that no longer exists.
“The success of Netflix and Amazon streaming services shows that subscription-based media can and does work.
Arlene Foster's DUP party hopes to strike a deal with the Tory party
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Arlene Foster's party said they would form an independent commission to review the BBC and “alternative funding models”, while producing a plan that will “either significantly reduce the licence fee or abolish it”.
Mr Watson, shadow culture secretary, hit back saying: “Don’t do this.
“Cutting or abolishing the TV licence would jeopardise the BBC’s future as an independent, advertiser-free national broadcaster. It would be a great mistake.
Tom Watson has vowed to block a DUP plan to stop TV licences
“I look forward to receiving reassurances that there will be no concessions to the DUP on this matter.
“And I would be grateful if you would give a specific commitment to maintaining the TV licence as the BBC’s funding mechanism.
The DUP said the BBC licence fee is a 'regressive tax'
The Tories reached a deal with the BBC in 2015 that saw the corporation take on the £750million costs of providing the service free to people over the age of 75.