“By undermining the BBC, the Government is undermining our region and our country” said Metro Mayor Dan Norris.
Speaking after the Government outlined plans to freeze and then scrap the licence fee the Metro Mayor said:
“The licence fee has stood the test of time for a century and now in a desperate attempt to deflect attention away from the fact that the Prime Minister knowingly broke his own rules by going to a bring your own booze party during lockdown they are threatening this well loved institution.”
“They are ripping up the licence fee with no idea of what will replace it.
“This could spell a death-knell for local journalism. We need the BBC to question and hold politicians like me to account. Their journalists are there every day and are helping our democracy.”
Fears are growing as to whether sporting events such as Wimbledon, the Six Nations and the Football World Cup will remain free-to-air.
Reports from the National Audit Office also highlight that the BBC could be forced to replace expensive high-end dramas and natural history shows made in Bristol with cheaper programmes owing to government-imposed funding cuts.
Dan Norris said: “This is a short-sighted move which will compromise the quality and quantity of high-end future productions and trash one of our greatest national assets.”.
BBC license fee announcement is desperate deflection by Government on the ropes
