Licence row a storm in teacup

SO, the BBC (or its agents, to be correct) sent out almost one million pay-up letters to homes across Northern Ireland (News, February 22).

By my calculations, that means every household in the country must be getting a couple, or else someone can’t get through the door for them piling up. Personally, I have not received one and am quite offended that I have been left out.

Seriously, though, other than the fact that the BBC welched on the over-75s’ deal with the Government, what is the big deal about the state broadcaster asking for the fee?

Get caught watching Sky illicitly and see how quickly you end up in court. Don’t pay Sky and you will be cut off. It’s the same with the mobile phones that are an extension to everyone’s arm now.

But I have a choice about those, I hear you say. It’s a tax.

Well, yes, but so is the VAT on my fuel and I can’t just ignore that, just as I can’t ignore the road tax on my car, or my rates bill, just because part of it finances the local theatre and I don’t go to the theatre.

Is there anything that People Before Profit think we should actually pay ourselves? They seem to expect the Government — i.e. you and me — to pay for everything.

To listen to some of them, you would think the BBC licence fee was unique to the UK.

The majority of European countries pay a licence fee, including the Irish Republic, and some are a lot more expensive than ours.

RAYMOND HUGHES Ballyclare, Co Antrim