Calls to scrap TV Licence fee before payment increase next April due official response

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling on the UK Government to “abolish” the BBC TV licence fees for everyone, calling it an “outdated and unwanted system”.

More than 13,300 virtual signatures have been recorded on the petitions-parliament website which means an official response is now due.The ‘Abolish TV Licence Fees For Everyone’ petition was created by Christian James Riley-Rowlands, who also warned that the £159 annual fee, which can be paid in several different ways, “can put people into debt”.

It’s due to rise in line with the rate of inflation from April 2024, following a two-year freeze at £159. The current Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure is 6.8 per cent which would see the TV Licence increase by £11 to £170.

Commenting on the petition, Jeff Richey, TV and film analyst at WatchTVAbroad.com, said that it’s “no surprise” the petition passed the 10,000 signature threshold.He explained: “The clock is ticking for the charge, as growing numbers of Britons question the fairness and logic of paying money to a TV station in the era of on-demand streaming services.“With household budgets stretched thin, many people are sacrificing luxuries to ensure they can make ends meet.