Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has stated the government is not looking at the idea of general taxation as a way to replace the BBC licence fee.
Earlier this week it was reported she was considering taxation as one of the ways of funding the BBC going forward.
However, speaking on BBC Breakfast Nandy said taxation is “not something that we’re considering.”
“But there is no question in my mind that the licence fee is not only insufficient, it’s raising insufficient money to support the BBC, but it also is deeply regressive.”
Nandy added that she believes “there is a genuine sense out there in the public that the licence fee was built for a different era.”
She cited countries which use alternative ways of funding public service broadcasters: “In France, for example, they have a levy on cinemas. I’m not committing to any of these things at this stage.”
Negotiations with the BBC have started ahead of the Royal Charter renewal in 2027, said Nandy, adding that she hopes whatever funding model is decided will “future-proof our national broadcaster until well into the latter half of this century”.
