BBC Forced To Take The Bullet For Brown's Policies

Speaking in the House of Commons debate on the Government's announcement that the BBC License Fee will increase by 3% for the next two years and then by 2% annually, Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield said:

"The next few years are crucial for the BBC. They cannot just stand still in order to maintain quality as the best broadcaster in the world.

"The BBC needs the funding to meet the demands of the digital multi-channel environment.

"The BBC also needs to meet the costs of the welcome move to Salford and the £600 million cost of digital switchover - a Government social policy which the Government should pay for, as they do the cost of free TV licenses for the over 75s."

Commenting after the debate, Paul Holmes MP added:

"This year the BBC have received a standstill settlement if inflation is 3%, or a cut depending on which measure of inflation is used. The 2% annual increase is clearly a funding cut.

"How can the BBC be expected to produce quality programming whilst the Government is demanding spending on its policies comes out of the license fee.

"Is Tessa Jowell really content to take the bullet for Gordon Brown and go down in history as the Secretary of State who undermined the BBC."