Exmouth pensioner's TV licence fight with BBC
A CAMPAIGNER who has refused to pay his television licence for nearly seven years has finally received a court summons from the BBC.
John Kelly, 70, from Hulham Road, Exmouth, refused to pay the £142.50 annual fee after complaining of “biased reporting”.
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John Kelly who has refused to buy a television licence
The retired engineer said the BBC’s reporting on Britain’s membership of the European Union — which he described as “the biggest issue of our times” — did not comply with the Royal Charter.
He accused the BBC of being pro-European and has refused to pay the licence fee since this came to his attention in 2002.
Mr Kelly said he has now received a summons to Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 15.
He said: “I love the BBC. It’s a unique public service broadcaster and I listen to and watch it as much as anyone else.
“But on reporting issues of political significance I believe they are biased, particularly with the issue of British membership of the European Union. Their reporting on issues surrounding the Lisbon Treaty is very biased.
“They present one side of the issue. They don’t present the other side of the coin, which is horrendous.
“The Royal Charter says reporting should be fair, balanced and allow its subjects to form their own opinion. I’d be happy to pay the fee if the BBC obeyed the law and adhered to its Royal Charter.”
Mr Kelly said people are “largely uninformed” about the European Union. He added: “They regard it as remote, but it’s not. Britain’s membership is a very serious issue as it affects who governs us and people don’t realise what’s happening.”
Mr Kelly said he attempted to complain formally to the broadcaster but felt he “got nowhere with the procedure”. He said: “They said it’s a matter of editorial judgement. I gave up. After going through the complaints procedure for two years I felt I had no choice, so I stopped paying.”
He was not fazed by receiving the summons but said he had not decided yet exactly what he will do. “I want to present my case to the magistrates and invite them to give me a conditional discharge,” he said.
“That has happened in cases such as this before.”
Mr Kelly faces a fine of up to £1,000 if he pleads or is found guilty.
A spokesman for TV Licensing said: “Anyone caught watching or recording television programmes without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.”
25 Comments
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by Nick, Totnes
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 10:05AM
“I see some people here have it wrong when they think they have a choice with regard to the licence fee.
In reality you are given very little choice. Even if you have absolutely no intention of watching the bbc and only watch subscription only or advert based channels you still have to pay the bbc in the form or a licence.
This kind of thinking should have no place in todays world. It's like shopping at Asda and having to pay Tesco a fee for doing so.
The bbc should go to subscription and give us all the choice. If they are as good as they claim to be they will get the support they need to continue.”
by Forrest Gump, 2009
Monday, July 13 2009, 7:06AM
“I remember a similar chimpout when Noel Edmonds said something along these lines. They don't breed them for thinking down in Exeter.”
by David Barnby, Witney
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 2:39PM
“It's not surprising the BBC will not criticise the EU, it receives some of its funding from them by way of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The terms are soft and in return they must not criticise instead they have to advance the interests of the EU - which are not the interests of the public who pay for it.
Good luck John Kelly next week.”
by David Topple, Exeter
Monday, July 06 2009, 10:20PM
“Unfortunately, Mr Kelly is dead right about reporting of the European Union. I only found out many details about this illegal monster when I did a degree at our city's university which included two courses in the Politics Department.
How many Exeter citizens know that a united Europe was already planned in 1948? (It seems someone forgot to tell the British electorate.) How many know that the head of the European Commission used to be a Maoist? How many know that the German Chancellor now in the forefront of moves towards a united Europe was an official of the brutal East German communist regime?
How many know that the European Commission's accounts have not been signed off by the auditors since the mid-1990s? How many know that British MEPs' expense accounts (including those of the UKIP MEPs) represent a trough for their greedy snouts that's considerably bigger than the one in Westminster?
I think I can guess the answer to these questions.
If the European Union applied to join the European Union, it would be rejected on the grounds that it is not a proper democracy.
If the European Union were a British company, Companies House would have struck it off years ago for its failure to submit the above-mentioned audited accounts.
Strange that the BBC doesn't mention these things.”
by Ogi, Ivybridge
Monday, July 06 2009, 4:11PM
“No doubt the Wimbledon coverage was biased as well! Let's hope he is ordered to pay interest and the legal costs.
Why should the licence payers be subsidizing this man!”