•Mr Bridgen believes TV Licence is a 'regressive tax'

•Claims current situation of rich paying same as poor is 'indefensible'

•Says the de-criminalisation of non-payment of the TV licence is 'inevitable'

Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen says the TV licence fee in its current form is 'unsustainable' and 'criminalising people for being poor'

Mr Bridgen made his comments in a Channel 4 News debate with Lord Michael Grade discussing the de-criminalisation of non-payment of the TV licence.

"The TV licence is a very regressive tax," said the newly-re-elected MP for North West Leicestershire.

"It's a situation where the richest person in the country and the poorest person pays the same regardless of income.

"It was indefensible six years ago when I first raised the issue of de-criminalisation, and it's indefensible now.

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"The BBC can't put up a decent argument other than losing their income stream.

"Nothing's changed, at the end of the day, this is a tax that is criminalising people for being poor. That can never be right.

"The magistrates have been calling for de-criminalisation for non-payment of the TV license for over 20 years."

It was put to Mr Bridgen that this was the 'first salvo' in a long battle with the BBC.

"In politics, as in life, there's never a wrong moment to do the right thing," he responded.

"De-criminalisation is the right thing. It's outdated. If the BBC found banana republic where there was a tax for viewing the state broadcaster, and most of the people being fined were women with children, then there would be uproar.

"We have a new Government and a new manifesto, that's when new ideas go in.

"It's inevitable, the licence fee in its current form is unsustainable."

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