Brendan Clarke-Smith has answered questions from Express readers on topics including the licence fee, BBC and state pension.
The Red Wall Tory MP also says he’s “up for the fight” on culture wars and insists the Conservatives can beat Labour at the next general election if they deliver on key pledges including getting a grip on Channel crossings.
Read the Bassetlaw MP’s full answers below:
Do you think the Red Wall seats are ready to forgive Sir Keir Starmer for his betrayal of the second Brexit vote and also voting against the Illegal Migration Bill?
People are very frustrated at the moment and that’s perfectly understandable after a pandemic and the rises in the cost of living which have followed. With the chopping and changing we’ve had nationally, that’s also had an effect on our polling too.
But the message when I’m knocking on doors in Bassetlaw isn’t that people are flocking back to Labour. In fact, many don’t know what they stand for and don’t like their constant flip-flopping on issues.
They also don’t find Keir Starmer an inspiring leader, so I think if we can deliver on our pledges, especially on illegal immigration, then the next election is still very much up for grabs.
What is your unequivocal position on the BBC tax?
I don’t believe in this day and age that we need the television licence fee. It’s an unnecessary £159 tax and with the amount of choice available now I think it’s time for the BBC to change their funding model.
There are plenty of ways of raising revenue without compromising on their independence and I think that’s a far fairer way than the current structure, which is a regressive and unfair cost imposed on the entire country.
I also don’t like the threatening letters that are sent out to people which automatically assume they are watching TV without a licence if they don’t purchase one.
As Gary Lineker is a citizen of the UK and doesn’t read the news or present a political program surely he is able to express his opinion?
Gary Lineker is absolutely entitled to his opinion, however wrong he may be. But Gary Lineker also presents a flagship show on the BBC and with that comes responsibilities.
The BBC is unique in the sense it is expected to be impartial and independent. If he wants to work for a private organisation like Sky then he can say what he likes. Again, it brings into question why we need to keep funding the BBC if it is no longer going to stick to these principles.
Do you think the so-called culture wars are damaging society?
We shouldn’t be needing to fight them in the first place. The real damage is coming from people who think we should be apologising for our history and heritage, or who can’t define basic biological facts, such as what constitutes a woman.
We must push back against this nonsense with some common sense. The public is with us and we shouldn’t be held to ransom by a small group of people with extreme views. It’s a fight I’m up for.
Please tell me when the Conservative Government intends to take action to equalise the difference between the two state pensions approximately £45.00 per week?
While there is a gap between the two state pensions, in reality, the average payouts made to older and younger pensioners are much closer in value. This is because many of those on the old basic state pension were entitled to an additional earnings-related element.
It’s worth bearing in mind that under this Government the basic state pension is over £3,000 a year higher than in 2010 and the full rate of the new state pension is over £10,000 per year for the very first time.
I do think it’s also important to reemphasise the importance of saving for retirement, which is why we have auto-enrolment into workplace pension schemes.
