Andrew Neil questions continuation of BBC licence fee

Andrew Neil, a former BBC broadcaster and chair of The Spectator, has been quizzed over BBC funding by the House of Lords communications and digital committee.

Neil stressed that, “There are still things the BBC does better than anybody else, which is why we need to continue to have a public service broadcaster.

However he said the BBC’s performance was made “particularly difficult” as “politicians have starved it of funds” and due to online and streaming service competition.

He also said surveys showed people were generally satisfied with the BBC which was “surprising”.

He implied the licence fee ought to be open to debate as it may be outdated, saying: “We just need to stand back and say is a funding mechanism which is served the BBC well and served the country well. Is it appropriate for what will become the fourth fourth decade of the 21st century…a funding mechanism invented when Lenin was rolling out his new economic programme in Russia.”