Unions Launch Campaign Against Licence Fee 'Top-Slicing'

A joint union campaign against the possible 'top-slicing' of the licence fee.
With fringe meetings in place at the Labour and Liberal Democrat party conferences, BECTU said that it would be a "key player" in the months ahead in efforts to persuade government ministers not to "sabotage the established independence of the BBC".
The BBC is facing the possibility of having part of their licence fee income being redirected to other broadcasters. The government's Digital Britain report proposes that 3.5% of licence fee income should be reassigned to assist the commercial sector.
BECTU said they, together with other members of the Federation of Entertainment Unions, supporters of public service broadcasting (PSB), leading academics and politicians across the spectrum, believe that a change in the purpose of the licence fee will do "fundamental damage to the Corporation's independence from government, to its output and ultimately to its position as the dedicated UK provider of public service broadcasting.
BECTU is urging its members to support the campaign by sending a postcard to the Secretary of State at the DCMS, Ben Bradshaw.
Commenting on the campaign,, BECTU General Secretary Gerry Morrissey said: "In many years of campaigning against attacks on the BBC and its funding, I believe that the current onslaught is the most damaging yet. If the government succeeds, top-slicing will rob the UK of one of its greatest assets.
"For decades public and commercial broadcasters have recognised the importance of the BBC to the UK's culture and economy; whilst the political climate is changing and the recession has exacerbated the problems of the commercial sector, robbing the BBC of its independence will not serve the UK population.
"We need every BECTU member and their friends and families to support this critical campaign to preserve the BBC's independence."
(KMcA/BMcC)