[Denver]

If – and it's a humongous 'if' – UKIP were to triumph in next month's general election, one thing you could kiss goodbye to would be the BBC's licence fee.

Announcing the policy yesterday (May 3), the party's economics and media spokesman Patrick O'Flynn said that the licence fee would be scrapped and replaced with a subscription model and advertising under UKIP.

So what's their reasoning?

Slamming the licence fee as a "television tax" (via The Telegraph), Patrick argued that if the idea people had to pay to watch telly was introduced today, it would be 'laughed off' as a policy that has more "in common with the politics of North Korea than a modern liberal democracy".

Erm, we're not quite sure that's a fair comparison, Patrick.

Insisting that the policy was "not particularly about money", Patrick added that it was about giving consumers the choice to pay a licence fee – which they already have.

The licence fee, which is sometimes a source of contention among viewers, was raised for the first time in seven years last month – not by much, though.

The price to pay for wanting to watch BBC channels on both your TV and online increased from £145.50 to £147.00 on April 1.

The price hike (if we can call it that) came months after the BBC closed a licence fee loophole that allowed anyone, even those without a licence, to watch programmes on iPlayer after they'd aired.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a8...ed-under-ukip/

[Cherry Christmas]

I'd rather pay 3.00 a week than watch a load of ads

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I'd rather pay 3.00 a week than watch a load of ads

I'm with Cherie...

My Dad pays £70 plus per month to watch Sky and there's nothing on there either.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

I'm with Cherie...

My Dad pays £70 plus per month to watch Sky and there's nothing on there either.

The major difference, of course, being that he chooses to pay for Sky.

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The major difference, of course, being that he chooses to pay for Sky.

And people choose to pay the licence fee or not as well by all accounts

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

And people choose to pay the licence fee or not as well by all accounts

No, those of us who have the balls to ignore the bullying and threats can choose. Deciding not to pay the licence fee is not as simple as saying you don't watch TV (which we don't). They will hound you, for years, with threats of criminal action and threats to come and gain entry to your home. Most people will pay up to avoid that hassle whether they watch live TV or not. And that's exactly what they intend.

Have you ever had a letter from Sky ordering you to "prove" that you don't watch Sky? A big red letter threatening to send the heavies round to come into your living room for a gander to see if you have a sky box? No. But that's what happens with the license fee. You can choose to opt out but you will face a barrage of threats and intimidation for doing so.

[Withano]

I think its a good policy (for purely selfish reasons), I can fastforward the ads. But like, it is UKIP, one good policy doesnt begin to cancel out their 50 terrible ones.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Withano

I think its a good policy (for purely selfish reasons), I can fastforward the ads. But like, it is UKIP, one good policy doesnt begin to cancel out their 50 terrible ones.

Pretty much.

They'd have to toss out their policies and most of their members and rebuild themselves from the ground up for me to ever consider voting for them.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Withano

I think its a good policy (for purely selfish reasons), I can fastforward the ads. But like, it is UKIP, one good policy doesnt begin to cancel out their 50 terrible ones.

Why does that remind me of the juicy carrot dangled by Corbyn. Four extra bank holidays was a good attempt to distract from all the totally irresponsible, terrible labour policies.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Why does that remind me of the juicy carrot dangled by Corbyn. Four extra bank holidays was a good attempt to distract from all the totally irresponsible, terrible labour policies.

What terrible policies are you speaking of?

I don't think I've seen anything from the Labour side that is as dangerous to the average UK citizen as the Tory attitude towards public services.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

What terrible policies are you speaking of?

I don't think I've seen anything from the Labour side that is as dangerous to the average UK citizen as the Tory attitude towards public services.

Er no nuclear weapons and open borders for starters.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Er no nuclear weapons and open borders for starters.

Nuclear weapons are a moneysink that serve no purpose than than the threat of mutual assured destruction. We spend a ridiculous amount of money on what are essentially doomsday devices. I'd be all for tearing down Trident to only it's essential defensive based operations. Anti-Nuclear weapon technology is important, but Nuclear weapons? They are a waste.

I can't find any recent evidence to suggest that Corbyn or any major Labour party member wants Open Borders. The most recent interview I can find (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38561501] has Corbyn championing a moderate approach to the subject of EU immigration.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Er no nuclear weapons and open borders for starters.

No nuclear weapons and open borders are not election policies.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Why does that remind me of the juicy carrot dangled by Corbyn. Four extra bank holidays was a good attempt to distract from all the totally irresponsible, terrible labour policies.

Sounds similar to strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Sounds similar to strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership.

Shouting it as loud as the rooftops won't make it true.

Unfortunately strong, stable and leadership are three words not in Corbyn's vocabulary.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Shouting it as loud as the rooftops won't make it true.

Unfortunately strong, stable and leadership are three words not in Corbyn's vocabulary.

I think the point is that this is what the Conservatives promised at the last election, and then they oversaw Brexit (which, whether you believe its for the best or not, can't be imagined to represent "stability") and then Cameron quit overnight never to be heard from again, and then no one REALLY wanted to take over the role. Strong stable leadership .

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Sounds similar to strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership and strong and stable leadership.

Do you have a stutter?

[MB.]

UKIP TV sounds like a right laugh

[Jack_]

Another stupid policy from a stupid party

The BBC is up there with the NHS as one of this country's greatest institutions, both being torn apart by the Tory government

[ebandit]

...........hope never to watch another BBC programme again in my life

..........help me out....don't vote UKIP.......don't pay license fee............and watch them
both fold

Mark L

[joeysteele]

I'd love to see the TV Licence scrapped but could never vote UKIP.
So will pass.

[user104658]

I likes Doctor Who.

The entirety of the rest of the BBC can **** off. Like literally, go off air forever. I wouldn't even notice, let alone care.

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I likes Doctor Who.

The entirety of the rest of the BBC can **** off. Like literally, go off air forever. I wouldn't even notice, let alone care.

Peter Kayes car share is worth the fee on its own

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Peter Kayes car share is worth the fee on its own

No ta

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

No ta

I bet you are glued to i player, illegally ticking the box to say you do have a licence and watching without parental lock