Sir Keir Starmer facing backslash after saying Labour will keep the £169.50 TV licence fee

SIR Keir Starmer was facing a backlash last night after ruling out plans for a Netflix-style subscription model for the BBC.

The PM said he was committed to keeping the £169.50 licence fee despite calls by critics for a shake-up.

PA

PM Sir Keir Starmer says he is committed to keeping the £169.50 licence fee[/caption]

PA

Former Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer launched a review into funding models[/caption]

The BBC Charter, which outlines its funding and governance, is up in three years.

Sir Keir said there would be “more thought between now and then” on funding.

But he added: “We’ve committed in our manifesto to obviously the BBC and to the licensing scheme.”

Lucy Frazer, Culture Secretary with the Tory government, launched a review into funding models before the next charter period begins to ensure the BBC remained sustainable in the digital age.

Critics are calling for public service programmes to be funded through taxation, with viewers paying for premium shows such as Strictly.

The weekly reach of broadcast TV fell from 83 per cent in 2021 to 79 per cent in 2022.

Licence fee uptake is down 1.7million from a 2018 high of 26million.

The BBC said: “We remain focused on offering value to the public and will engage with the government on funding at the appropriate time.”