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BBC licence fee deal faces NUJ legal challenge BBC licence fee deal faces NUJ legal challenge
(about 3 hours later)
The National Union of Journalists has launched a legal challenge to the deal that handed the BBC responsibility for funding free TV licences for the over-75s, claiming it is “legally flawed”.The National Union of Journalists has launched a legal challenge to the deal that handed the BBC responsibility for funding free TV licences for the over-75s, claiming it is “legally flawed”.
The union has written to the BBC Trust saying the deal breaches the corporation’s rules on governance and public sector equality rules, and that it discriminates against the under-75s. The letter is the first step towards seeking a judicial review.The union has written to the BBC Trust saying the deal breaches the corporation’s rules on governance and public sector equality rules, and that it discriminates against the under-75s. The letter is the first step towards seeking a judicial review.
The NUJ is asking for the trust to explain how the deal between the BBC and the Treasury was was struck, and to reverse it. It asks for a substantive reply before 4pm on 29 July and if the response is not deemed satisfactory, it plans to begin taking the decision to the courts.The NUJ is asking for the trust to explain how the deal between the BBC and the Treasury was was struck, and to reverse it. It asks for a substantive reply before 4pm on 29 July and if the response is not deemed satisfactory, it plans to begin taking the decision to the courts.
The deal will see the BBC take on the £750m cost of funding free licence fees for the over-75s, in return for no longer having to fund broadband rollout at a cost of £80m a year and the prospect of linking the licence fee to the CPI, as long as the BBC’s scale remains unchanged.The deal will see the BBC take on the £750m cost of funding free licence fees for the over-75s, in return for no longer having to fund broadband rollout at a cost of £80m a year and the prospect of linking the licence fee to the CPI, as long as the BBC’s scale remains unchanged.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “We have already said this was a shabby deal which is not good news for the licence fee payer or the BBC staff. It places the corporation in a situation where more cuts to jobs and programming are needed because of the funding shortfall, a move which will inevitably compromise quality. As well as being a bad deal done without any engagement with licence fee payers, we also believe that it is legally flawed.”NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “We have already said this was a shabby deal which is not good news for the licence fee payer or the BBC staff. It places the corporation in a situation where more cuts to jobs and programming are needed because of the funding shortfall, a move which will inevitably compromise quality. As well as being a bad deal done without any engagement with licence fee payers, we also believe that it is legally flawed.”
A Trust spokesperson said: “We have received the letter and will respond in due course.”
The licence fee deal was announced at the start of the month after secret talks between the Treasury and the BBC. Critics have attacked the process for being conducted behind closed doors, in a similar manner to the last deal in 2010. Culture secretary John Whittingdale had previously argued in his previous role as chair of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee that any future deal must be done in the open.The licence fee deal was announced at the start of the month after secret talks between the Treasury and the BBC. Critics have attacked the process for being conducted behind closed doors, in a similar manner to the last deal in 2010. Culture secretary John Whittingdale had previously argued in his previous role as chair of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee that any future deal must be done in the open.