‘People without kids pay for schools!’ Jeremy Vine bats back criticisms of BBC licence fee

TalkRADIO presenter Cristo Foufas appeared on Jeremy Vine on 5 where he slammed the BBC licence fee and said it was not fair to threaten people with imprisonment if they refuse to pay it. Mr Foufas compared the situation to people shopping at Sainsbury’s but having to also pay for Tesco after Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced a freeze on the fee. BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine challenged the criticism and argued many people pay taxes on things they may never use. 

Speaking on Jeremy Vine on 5, the panel discussed the BBC licence fee amid the news it will be frozen for two years.

Mr Foufas was against the fee being enforced by a prison sentence and told the show: “It is not fair to say to people that they need to pay for something which they may not use or may not use in its entirety.

“I’m afraid that same old analogy that if I want to go to Sainsbury’s, why would I have to pay to use Tesco? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Mr Vine pushed back against the attack and said: “People without kids pay for schools, people who don’t walk at night pay for streetlights.

“There are all kinds of examples of what we do, people who don’t like the Royal Family pay for it.”

Mr Foufas replied: “But this is a broadcast institution like education or the NHS and I think that those comparisons are a little misjudged.

“But again, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have a portion of it paid for by the taxpayer, which is not criminalised. It comes out of general taxation.”

Earlier in the show, commentator Kate Smurthwaite argued the BBC should stay and so should the licence fee but it should focus entirely on facts-based broadcasting and education.

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker is among a number of people who have tweeted out their support for the broadcaster, telling people it costs “43p per day” for more than 20 broadcasting channels across the country.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker also showed his support and wrote: “The BBC is revered, respected and envied around the world.

“It should be the most treasured of national treasures. Something true patriots of our country should be proud of.

“It should never be a voice for those in Government, whoever is in power.”