A senior Tory MP has described a forthcoming review into BBC funding as a "sham", as Nadine Dorries called the licence fee a "regressive tax" which penalises women and poorer people.
It comes after the culture secretary unveiled a two-year freeze to the organisation's licence fee in January, with a review to be launched before the summer recess to examine alternatives.
Appearing at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, Ms Dorries told MPs people needed to "wake up and smell the coffee", insisting it was time for a model that is "more effective, modern and fair".
The cabinet minister labelled the existing licence fee a "regressive tax and it does penalise women and the poor more than it does others", adding it was "antediluvian" to suggest it was still appropriate now.
But Damian Green, the former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, suggested it was "the wrong way round" for the minister to come to a decision before launching a consultation.
Esta historia es de la edición May 20, 2022 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 20, 2022 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Red Bull design 'supremo' to step down at end of year
Adrian Newey, the design genius who has masterminded Red Bull’s current domination in Formula One, will leave the world champions in early 2025 and “seek new challenges” in the sport.
Throwback Alvarez shapes up for Mexican fight fest
The super-middleweight champion takes on his unbeaten compatriot Jaime Munguia on Cinco de Mayo weekend
Bellingham's muted display saved by menace of Madrid
It’s the sort of image you can see being brought up in the future, maybe even this summer.
Unfancied Dortmund win on night of missed chances
Might the story of the season suddenly be happening out of nowhere, like another sublime Jadon Sancho run? Nobody has given Borussia Dortmund a chance in these Champions League semi-finals but, in part because Paris Saint-Germain couldn’t take any massive chances of their own, the German club at least have one foot in Wembley.
Tough 'Iron General' goes to war on diplomatic front
Sacked commander-in-chief of Ukraine Valeryi Zaluzhnyi is excelling as an ambassador to London, writes Kim Sengupta
Scientists use skull to build face of Neanderthal woman
A 75,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton found in the foothills of Iraq is believed to have been a woman aged in her mid-forties, according to researchers who pieced her skull back together.
Labour fails in bid to unseat Scotland's SNP government
Labour’s attempt to unseat Scotland’s SNP government failed yesterday after the Greens voted against a motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf’s minority administration.
Female presenters say BBC job application was 'rigged'
Martine Croxall and three other senior BBC journalists have begun legal action against the broadcaster, claiming a job recruitment process was rigged”.
'Kew is a museum of plants and also a living work of art’
Artist provocateur Marc Quinn has been shocking people for decades. His new exhibition, Light into Life, is inspired by the beauty of the gardens. Mark Hudson walks with him
Netanyahu tells Blinken he will not end war on Hamas as part of deal for hostages
Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have told Antony Blinken he would not accept an end to the war in Gaza as part of a potential ceasefire and hostage deal.