Should the BBC Licence be scrapped and replaced by a subscription service?

The BBC licence fee costs households £169 per year in 2026 and funds most of the corporation's television, radio and online output. Half a million fewer households paid it in the past year amid rising evasion and criticism of bias and high presenter salaries. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has proposed extending a version of the fee to streaming subscribers instead of advertising or full subscription, while campaigns and Reform UK supporters push to replace it entirely with voluntary payments.