TheEye is starting to get nervous as he wonders if David Vance has one of those twitchy nerves in his left eyebrow which goes ballistic when he knows that things have just gone too far. There’s always a limit, and when politicians or taxpayer-funded broadcasters overstep that mark then twitchy-eyebrow and rant time has descended.

Now David Cameron, our next PM, has argued for at least a freeze and preferably a cut in the telly tax. So what do we learn from the Daily LabourGraph? MPs have approved a £3 increase in the BBC licence fee, despite calls for the Corporation to set an example and live within its means. Or scrap the tax altogether in TheEye’s not very humble opinion.

Cameron wanted the licence fee to be frozen at £139.50 – rather than be raised to £142.50 – but he was defeated in the Commons vote despite saying that the proposed £3 increase in the tax was unfair when the country was deep in the financial merde.

This post is not done in italics as TheEye is paraphrasing from The Telegraph and not quoting 100% but the post is basically a summary of their article so you won’t learn more by clicking through.

The Tories lost the vote to revoke the Communication Regulation 2009 motion last night. 156 MPs backed the motion but 374 MPs approved the 2 per cent increase in the licence fee.

Although the result of the vote will be a relief to the BBC, it hopefully acts as a wake-up call about the challenge they face from the next Tory government.

Conservative leaders have said previously they support funding the BBC through the licence fee, although top-slicing would be a possibility. TheEye would stop writing the big cheques from day one of his administration and would just smile/grimace/grit teeth through the biased-BBC backlash afterwards.

The BBC could be forced to share its licence fee with Channel 4 (which of course is also taxpayer-owned), under recommendations being considered by the Government’s ‘Digital Britain’ report due in June, by technology minister “Lord” Stephen Carter, which will set out the options facing broadcasters over the next five years. This is of course rather wishful thinking as ZaNuLabour are electoral toast within 12 months anyway and it’ll just go in the bin.

The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, has warned that any reductions in the licence fee could put services at risk. Every organisation in the entire solar system (Martian spacecraft builders – yeah Zgxftsdgej, three legs on the UFO would still work instead of four…they’ll just have to kidnap caravanners more carefully boss) is going to sign up to having their budget cut aren’t they?

Sir Michael Lyons, the head of the Trust, said at speech on Tuesday, the Tory plan was a “recipe for curbing the editorial independence of the BBC. It is very important that the BBC’s horizons do not become too closely entwined with the political cycle,” he added. ‘Horizons’? That’ll be the corrupt reprobates you shill for on television and the web every day and who the public scream ever louder to be rid of.

Speaking in the debate, Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, said: “Some people may say why are we having this debate over a mere £3 per annum increase?

“Partly because this House has learned, over MPs’ expenses, that the public get justifiably angry over the misuse of its money – whether large sums or small,” he said.

“The BBC needs to maintain its bond of trust with the British people. That means understanding that when times are tough, you don’t just pocket the money that was allocated to you in happier times. You listen to people’s concerns, and respond to the very changed economic circumstances of 2009.” Now the Tories are far from free of this allegation in their expenses claims but this is specifically directed at the BBC in this one Parliamentary debate.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said the licence fee should not be used “as a political football” and said any calls to reduce the fee would underestimate the independence of the BBC. Independence? Read Biased BBC and wonder why Labour and the LibDums are happy with the current Gruaniad-recruited staff “I do remember… the corridors of Broadcasting House were strewn with empty champagne bottles. I’ll always remember that.

Jane GarveyBBC Five Live, May 10th, 2007, recalling May 2nd, 1997.

Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary said: “The BBC has responsibility to taxpayers that it is adequately not overfunded. Over-bloomin’-funded? This is Planet Earth you *notswearyblognotswearyblogjustfocusrightnow*

“That is the balance we must alway strike, playing fair by the BBC with sufficient finding and stability so that the BBC can fulfil its charter purposes and paying fair by the licence fee payer so it is good value and affordable, taking into account the prevailing economic circumstance.”

Speaking after the vote, John Whittingdale, the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, said: “Although £3 doesn’t seem like a huge amount of money, the BBC cannot be treated in isolation from the rest of broadcasting sector. Every broadcaster is under pressure, and the huge amount of money the BBC enjoys above any other broadcaster is distorting the market.”Mr Whittingdale, you have the spine of a jellyfish. Do something about that.

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture, media and sport, said: “The Tories’ efforts to undermine the licence fee were little more than a cheap gimmick. Don Foster, however, is a 24-carat knobhead so is only presumably being quoted for political comment balance. But hmmmm. Labour talking crap, LibDum talking crap, Tory talking diluted crap. Okay, missed the alledged balance there but ho-hum. Obviously wrong as usual.

“The licence fee should not be used as a political football in this way as it seriously undermines the independence of the BBC.” Have you watched Question Time recently, sunshine?

A spokesweasel for the BBC Trust said: “We welcome the BBC’s funding being secured at a level that will allow it to continue to invest in high quality programmes and services. The Trust will ensure that the BBC meets its efficiency targets and continues to maintain downward pressure on all its costs.”

Aren’t there a few Bullshit Jargon Generators online nowadays? This bloke must have one hard-coded into his DNA.

TheEye steps back and considers locating a bottle of Rioja.