Assessing fees

The polling game is a slippery slope for the BBC. It loves getting backing as a "trusted organisation" - but that doesn't necessarily pay the rent. The Trust liked its poll which said people would rather have £5.50 off the licence fee than subsidise an alternative source of regional news - which others found less surprising. The DCMS then produced its own poll which changed the results round.

Now the Daily Mail, through a survey of 3,000 by You Gov, suggests the a smaller licence fee is top of most voters' agenda for cuts.