BBC bosses accused of lobbying for £1bn rise in licence fee funds

The BBC was under fire last night over claims it was 'tacitly lobbying' for a £1 billion-a-year increase in licence fee revenue.

The row broke out after the Corporation's annual report pointedly referred to how much less the charge on residential households now raises compared with ten years ago.

Under the previous Conservative Government, the annual fee faced years of scrutiny, with it being frozen for two years at £159 before it was increased at a lower than expected rate in April, bringing the charge to £169.50.

In the annual report, BBC group chief operating officer Leigh Tavaziva wrote: 'Two years of flat licence fee pricing at a time of high inflation has resulted in a significant funding impact. 

'In real terms, the licence fee generated 30 per cent more income in 2010/11 than it does today – a difference of more than £1 billion a year.'

And Director General Tim Davie added: 'Below inflationary licence fee settlements have chipped away at our income over many years and have put serious pressure on our finances'. 

But the same report also detailed the salary figures for the BBC's biggest stars, including Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who at £1.35 million is the top earner.

Tory MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke last night urged the BBC to 'cut its cloth' according to the funding available – not lobby for more.

Last year the Tory government launched a review into the licence fee model, which will look at alternative funding for the Corporation's operations when its current Charter – its agreement with the Government on its public service obligations – ends in 2027.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he was 'committed' to the BBC and its TV licence fee.

Last night Sir Alec said: 'At a time when licence fee payers are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, you have to admire the BBC's cheek for tacitly lobbying for a £1 billion-a-year increase.

'But in the week when 'Auntie' revealed its annual list of eye-wateringly high salaries, it really does take the biscuit.'

He added: 'As with many organisations in these difficult times, the BBC must cut its cloth according to the funding available.'

However, last night, BBC sources insisted that Ms Tavaziva's remarks should not be interpreted as a request for the lost value of the licence fee to be made up.

A BBC spokesman said: 'We are part way through a Charter period, in which it's agreed the licence fee will rise with inflation until 2027.'

...but it has £110,000 to splash on 'wellbeing' guru 

The BBC is advertising for a 'head of wellbeing' on a £110,000 salary amid controversies such as the Strictly bullying row.

Candidates for the role, which offers working from home, would ideally be 'a leading light in mental health with a proven track record of creating impactful wellbeing programmes'.

But Tory MP Sir John Hayes, a former Government minister, said last night: 'It is a preposterous waste of licence fee-payers' money. The health and happiness of staff should be the concern of everyone in management – you don't need someone specially to worry about wellbeing.'

BBC Director General Tim Davie apologised last week over the Strictly Come Dancing bullying claims against pro-dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima.

A BBC spokesman said that the wellbeing post was part of established' plans and is 'unrelated to recent events surrounding Strictly'.