Give my £169.50 per year to the NHS not the BBC - Mark Oaten

I flick from Netflix to Prime to Disney and occasionally watch my beloved Watford on Sky Sports. I pay per month or pay as I go, and I enjoy the variety and flexibility and my right to pick what I watch and pay for.

So why should I, and millions of others be forced to pay over £150 a year to watch the BBC.? The pro licence fee argument is we need to protect the values and independence of British public broadcasting.

I think that’s an insult to other broadcasters and viewers intelligence. ITV, C4 and Sky would rightly argue they provide independence and those broadcasters like GB news with an agenda are more than open about it.

The BBC doesn’t have a monopoly of political integrity and anyway if I did want to watch it, I would be happy to pay but at my choice not by governments demand. Then there is the argument that the BBC World service and values of the BBC spread positive opinions about Britain across the world.

Maybe yes, but do I want to pay for this?

It all feels a bit middle class, colonial and lost empire to me. Finally, we are told that quality entertainment and program making must be protected.

Well, I absolutely love Gavin and Stacey and understand Sir David Attenborough is a genius but hang on a moment Brideshead Revisited, arguably one of the best ever television dramas, and Succession and are hardly trash TV and had nothing to do with a licence fee.

Bluntly it’s time to end this state tax. It is worth 3,75 Billion a year. It’s a staggering amount. I would happily pay my £150 a year if it went to the NHS- that would pay for 40 new hospitals a year.

So why don’t politicians ever take this on.? I remember suggesting it to Nick Clegg when he was Deputy PM- he looked at me like I was mad “do you really want to take on the BBC?” Its time to kiss auntie good night.

Time to make the BBC find other ways to compete in what should be a free market.