For the past three weeks, I have been running a survey to hear your thoughts on the BBC and TV licence fee. With more than 800 responses, I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to tell me their thoughts.
Of the constituents who responded, 76% said the TV licence fee should be abolished and 79% support decriminalising non-payment of the fee. The BBC also scored badly amongst constituents when asked if the broadcaster was good value for money, impartial, and trustworthy.
When people's responses who do not live in the Orpington constituency are included, a whopping 84% believe the licence fee should be abolished and 86% support decriminalisation. It's clear there is growing anger regarding the BBC's output across the country.
It is very useful to have your thoughts and it will help my work, delivering for you, in Westminster. I will now be feeding the results into Ministers and writing a letter to new Director-General of the BBC to outline the views of my constituents. What I would like to see happen is the BBC to return to the impartial and trustworthy broadcaster that it used to be. It cannot continue on its current biased, anti-British direction and expect the British public to be forced into paying for it.
The BBC's charter is due to be renewed in 2027. I believe this offers an opportunity for the broadcaster's funding to be fundamentally reviewed if it fails to change course. As your MP, I will represent your views in Parliament and continue to push the BBC to change or lose the licence fee.
Best wishes,
Gareth Bacon MP
BBC survey results in full
Should the BBC licence fee be abolished? Of the 854 responses to this question, 720 (84%) answered yes and 134 (16%) answered no.
487 constituents - 372 (76%) answered yes and 115 (24%) answered no.
367 non-constituents - 348 (95%) answered yes and 19 (5%) answered no.
Should non-payment of the BBC licence fee be decriminalised? Of the 841 responses to this question, 719 (86%) answered yes and 122 (15%) answered no.
477 constituents - 378 (79%) answered yes and 99 (21%) answered no.
364 non-constituents - 341 (94%) answered yes and 23 (6%) answered no.
On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is very bad value for money and 10 is very good value for money, do you think the BBC offers licence fee payers good value for money? Overall, the average score was 3, with 448 people marking 1 and only 78 giving the BBC a score of 10.
For constituents, the average score was 3.7, with 227 people marking 1 and only 65 people marking 10.
For non-constituents, the average score was 2.2, with 221 people marking 1 and only 13 people marking 10.
On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is very biased and 10 is very impartial, to what extend do you think The BBC is impartial/unbiased? Overall, the average score was 2.9, with 482 people marking 1 and only 82 giving the BBC a score of 10.
For constituents, the average score was 3.6, with 218 people marking 1 and only 51 people marking 10.
For non-constituents, the average score was 2.2, with 264 people marking 1 and only 31 people marking 10.
On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is very untrustworthy and 10 is very trustworthy, to what extend do you think The BBC is trustworthy? Overall, the average score was 2.9, with 473 people marking 1 and only 65 giving the BBC a score of 10.
For constituents, the average score was 3.6, with 218 people marking 1 and only 51 people marking 10.
For non-constituents, the average score was 2, with 255 people marking 1 and only 14 people marking 10.