Dodgy

Rich. In the "a bit rich" sense. Pleading 'poverty', Culture Secretary Maria Miller and Justice Secretary Chris Grayling have let it be known that one of their conditions for BBC Charter renewal will be de-criminalisation of licence fee evasion. Non-payment will be made a civil offence.

They are taking their lead from a Commons amendment to the 2003 Communications Act tabled by Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire who argues "For those in real hardship who cannot pay the television licence fee, the current legislation is effectively criminalising them for being poor, which cannot be right..."  This from a party that has removed Council Tax Benefit, saving £414m and seen a 30% increase in prosecutions for non-payment in the first six months (is anyone doing the balance sheet on that move ?) This from a party that recognises that tax evasion costs this country £14bn a year.  This from a party that now has a standard £100 fine, non-returnable, for not filing a tax return on time.

First offenders in front of magistrates for not having a tv licence are liable for a fine of up to £1,000 and costs. If poverty is pleaded, the usual deal is £200 fine and £200 costs, to be paid off at £4 a week. I can't believe Charles Moore, former Telegraph Editor, pleaded poverty when he went to court over non-payment in protest over the Ross/Brand affair - he had to cough up just £262, plus £503 costs. Attitudes like Moore's have spawned a wide informal network of sites, discussions groups and forums on how to spin out the process at little expense to the evader - and the BBC admits evasion is a growing problem. Making it a civil offence trebles the opportunity for the "clever" to tap dance around the system.

The logic here, if there is one, is that compulsory payments short of "proper taxes" are difficult for the "poor", especially when fixed or "regressive"; offenders are harmless and should be pursued through the civil system. I look forward to the parallel manifesto pledges on vehicle excise duty, unauthorised use of trade marks and rail fare evasion.