License Free UK

In response to an announcement by Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell today (Thursday, 18 January 2007) that the TV license fee will increase by 3% over each of the next two years, I have set up this site to allow a free and open discussion about the UK TV license and the possibility of abolishing it (or demonstrating outside parliment until our feet get cold in true British style).

In my view, the BBC does not need to be publicly funded and this increase is a further insult to our already over-taxed public. If the programming was actually any good then they could be funded by advertising or other sponsorship. I see no reason why we the general public should foot the bill! The BBC used to be a wonderful service, especially during war time and was a monument to our “british-ness”, but now all we see are rubbish programmes that get repeated over and over on the myriad of new channels that the BBC claims are enriching our lives.

This further rise in our license fee is utterly outrageous. The BBC is already taxing us far too much for a mere smattering of decent shows whilst the highest echelons of the corporation (and mindless celebrities) enjoy massive wages paid from our pockets.

If you don’t pay, you’re not just cut off like you would be with Sky… you’re a criminal and you can actually go to jail for it! We need to stand up and deny the government any more increases for what is already an over-paid, under-achieving public “service” that MANY of us no longer want. This government has increased taxes accross the board and I for one am tired of seeing my hard-earned wage being syphoned off to shabby services - with no end in sight.

I open the virtual floor to you all.

Rob Evans
Site Admin