BBC licence fee is regressive' and wealthier may have to pay more' says former chair

Richard Sharp suggested there should be a discussion around whether there is a better system than the current licence fee

By Jenny Priestley

Published: July 10, 2023 Updated: July 11, 2023

Richard Sharp suggested there should be a discussion around whether there is a better system than the current licence fee

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Ex-BBC chair Richard Sharp has described the licence fee as regressive and suggested it could be replaced by a broadband tax or levy based on property value.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Sharp said while he is in favour of a form of mandatory payment like the current licence fee, he thinks it is regressive due to households on lower incomes pay[ing] the same price as wealthier households. This may need to be addressed, he added.

You can look at models around the world, there's a broadband tax, there's a household tax and there's the licence fee. Change is disruptive from moving from one mechanism that works to another.

Sharp suggested there should be a discussion around whether there is a better system than the current licence fee, but that decision would be for parliament.

The government is currently exploring whether to replace the £159-a-year licence fee with a new funding model after 2027.

LINK:	https://www.tvbeurope.com/business/bbc-licence-fee-is-regressive-and-w...
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