15-12-2023, 03:13 AM
I’m not trying to argue with you here, but the idea it wouldn’t get anywhere as legislation is probably not true.
There is a strong cross-part consensus that continuing to fund the BBC is worthwhile. If some kind of report concludes that adding it on to another (perhaps unavoidable) bill is the best way forward, I imagine MPs and the Lords would push it through; regardless if it’s “right” that they do.
I understand what your point is, and I see the potential unfair you mention, but I don’t imagine that will realistically be a blocker. The most vocal MPs that would possibly be against it would actually be those who don’t agree with the BBC’s funding model at all and would prefer to frustrate a LF settlement as a way to force the BBC into a subscription model and deprive it of funding. Given that’s a small minority of MPs, any vote would still pass unless the details of the proposal were extremely unpalatable.
There is a strong cross-part consensus that continuing to fund the BBC is worthwhile. If some kind of report concludes that adding it on to another (perhaps unavoidable) bill is the best way forward, I imagine MPs and the Lords would push it through; regardless if it’s “right” that they do.
I understand what your point is, and I see the potential unfair you mention, but I don’t imagine that will realistically be a blocker. The most vocal MPs that would possibly be against it would actually be those who don’t agree with the BBC’s funding model at all and would prefer to frustrate a LF settlement as a way to force the BBC into a subscription model and deprive it of funding. Given that’s a small minority of MPs, any vote would still pass unless the details of the proposal were extremely unpalatable.