TryGOLD- Free

'ARROGANT' BBC UNDER FIRE OVER LICENCE FEE BOAST
Daily Express|February 18, 2023
'Tim Davie boasting about coining it in during a cost-of-living crisis is sickening'
- Sarah O'Grady
'ARROGANT' BBC UNDER FIRE OVER LICENCE FEE BOAST

OUTRAGED MPs slammed "arrogant" remarks by BBC boss Tim Davie about forcing viewers to pay the licence fee.

He said it was "amazing" people are "happy" to find the £159. The director general's boasts to regional staff caused fury as the BBC scrapped free TV licences for the over-75s three years ago, claiming the scheme was too expensive.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, who froze the TV charge, told the Daily Express: "Mr Davie makes the case as to why the licence fee is outdated and the review into future funding of the BBC is so necessary."

Her Tory colleague and Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis said: "The arrogance of the BBC is astonishing. Tim Davie boasting about coining it from a tax forced on people during a cost-of-living crisis is sickening.

"Add in that the BBC is using this taxpayers' money to promote an increasingly woke, Left-wing biased agenda which sneers at the sort of hard-working people who live in my constituency then the case is clear for the licence fee to go." Mr Davie added that the broadcaster had "better budgets than some commercial operators", which he described as "glorious".

In a leaked recording of a meeting this week, he reportedly added: "That most households are pretty happy paying a licence being a forced payment. It's amazing what we're pulling off."

Dennis Reed, director of older people's campaign group Silver Voices, described Mr Davie's tone as "sneering".

He added: "With such arrogant attitudes from the top leadership, it's hardly surprising the reputation of the BBC is at such a low ebb. The true colours of BBC executives were first shown with the scrapping of free licences for the over-75s in 2020, when [they] refused to countenance any compromise to ease the pain of stopping this benefit.

This story is from the February 18, 2023 edition of Daily Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 18, 2023 edition of Daily Express.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DAILY EXPRESSView All
Heritage at risk as ministers slash repairs assistance
Daily Express

Heritage at risk as ministers slash repairs assistance

'Many churches now have to raise money to pay the taxman'

time-read
3 mins  |
February 18, 2025
AI revenge porn on increase via apps
Daily Express

AI revenge porn on increase via apps

ARTIFICIAL intelligence is increasingly being used to create revenge porn, experts warn.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
'Hell of a lot more to do to improve NHS
Daily Express

'Hell of a lot more to do to improve NHS

HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has admitted he has a long way to go to fix the NHS - despite meeting a manifesto pledge to deliver two million more appointments.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Labour MPs call for ethics probe 'Herminator' into
Daily Express

Labour MPs call for ethics probe 'Herminator' into

SIR Keir Starmer's ethics tsar must investigate the Attorney General over potential conflicts of interest, Labour MPs are demanding.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Family figured that Bergerac's back
Daily Express

Family figured that Bergerac's back

DAMIEN Molony has said family and friends didn't need to play detective to know he was the new Jim Bergerac when he said he was off to Jersey.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Victim of pub shooting was 'wonderful mum'
Daily Express

Victim of pub shooting was 'wonderful mum'

HAUNTING video footage captured the moment gunshots rang out as a woman was killed on Valentine's Day in a pub car park.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Defence spending 'has to rise to 3%'
Daily Express

Defence spending 'has to rise to 3%'

A RETIRED Army colonel says the UK must \"take up the gauntlet\" after Sir Keir Starmer said he is willing to put British troops in Ukraine.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
'Game changer' new prostate cancer test is 96% accurate
Daily Express

'Game changer' new prostate cancer test is 96% accurate

A PROSTATE cancer test could detect the disease in nearly all men, scientists say.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025
Starmer to tell Trump US must stop Russia from invading Ukraine again
Daily Express

Starmer to tell Trump US must stop Russia from invading Ukraine again

SIR Keir Starmer has called for US help to ensure there is lasting peace in Ukraine.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 18, 2025
Jihadist linked to Brit hostage beheadings on trial for torture
Daily Express

Jihadist linked to Brit hostage beheadings on trial for torture

A JIHADIST linked with the beheading of two British aid workers after shooting dead four people at a Jewish museum yesterday denied being a torturer for ISIS.

time-read
1 min  |
February 18, 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more