Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, responding to comments by John Whittingdale that the BBC licence fee level was ‘not settled’, said:

“The BBC negotiated the recent licence fee deal with the Government in good faith, but now it appears the Culture Secretary is preparing to renege on the agreement.

“This is yet further evidence that the Government is planning to pull the rug out from under the BBC and represents another attack on the corporation.  What has the Government got against the BBC?

“The unique way in which the BBC is funded means we have a public service broadcaster that uniquely delivers billions of pounds of added value to our creative industries and wider economy every year.

“The licence fee should remain for the full period of the next Charter with the CPI inflation rise as promised.”