The Tories have launched a new attack on the BBC as they seek revenge for the U-turn on Gary Lineker.
Telly bosses today announced the Match of the Day presenter will be back on screens at the weekend after they called a truce with him.
But Tory MPs immediately went on the offensive as they demanded the abolition of the licence fee.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary, said the £159-a-year charge is “passed its sell-by date and it needs to go”.
Fellow Conservatives who had demanded the BBC sack Mr Lineker backed the call for the licence fee to be scrapped.
Scott Benton, who had argued the presenter’s position was “ completely untenable”, said: “The licence fee is a decades out of date, regressive tax which people shouldn’t have to pay simply to watch TV.”
Tom Hunt, who had written to the BBC to demand Mr Lineker issue a full apology “at the very least”, said: “Times have changed. I sense there is growing support for moving away from the coercive nature of the licence fee.”
And ex-minister Andrea Jenkyns called on the Culture Secretary to “carry out a review on BBC bias and for the £159-a-year fee to ultimately be ditched”.
Mr Lineker was pulled off the air after he criticised the government's new Illegal Migration Bill and questioned their use of language towards refugees.
But the BBC backed down yesterday after more than 210,000 people signed a Mirror petition calling for him to be reinstated and several of his colleagues boycotted the broadcaster in solidarity.
Lucy Powell, Labour's Shadow Culture Secretary said: “These Tory MPs are meant to believe in free speech but they’re really just snowflakes. The ongoing uncertainty around the future of the BBC is a deliberate strategy to keep it over a barrel, making it susceptible to political campaigns orchestrated by ministers, MPs and the right-wing press.
“This is straight out of the Conservative playbook, with their MPs threatening the BBC’s future and making them dance to the Tory tune when someone says something they don’t like.”
Rupa Huq, a Labour member of the Commons culture committee, said the licence fee must be defended in the face of “right wing ideologues”.
She said: “The BBC has long been envy of the world as a genuinely pubic service broadcaster serving its audience with quality offerings across TV and radio.
“To keep it free of serving advertisers or being a state propaganda broadcaster rather than the auntie beeb we know and love I would argue against right wing ideologues and in defence of the licence fee.”
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Jamie Stone added: “The BBC supports thousands of jobs in the creative industries across the UK. Endangering these jobs to settle a score with a Match of the Day presenter doesn’t sound like much of a game plan to me.”
Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, this morning announced a review into the “difficult balancing act” of its social media guidance for staff, in a bid to ensure that it was “clear, proportionate and appropriate” going forward.
Mr Lineker said that he and his employer could now continue “to fight the good fight, together”.
Reiterating his support for refugees, he added: “However difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away.
“It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.
“We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people.”
Downing Street said the licence fee would remain in place until the end of 2027. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: "We remain committed to the licence fee for the rest of the current charter. But we've been clear that the BBC's funding model faces major challenges due to changes in the way people consume media.
"And it's necessary to look at ways to ensure long-term sustainability."
It comes as there is growing pressure on BBC chairman Richard Sharp to step down.
The Tory donor is being investigated after he failed to declare that helped facilitate an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson.
Keir Starmer today warned that Mr Sharp's position is "increasingly untenable".
The Labour leader said: "I think most people watching the complete mess of the last few days would say how on earth is he still in position and Gary Lineker has been taken off air?
"This is a mess of the BBC's own making, they need to sort it out and sort it out fast."
Downing Street declined to give its backing to either Mr Sharp or Mr Davie.
On Mr Sharp the PM’s spokesman said he “will await the outcome” of a review being conducted into his appointment.
"The director-general is appointed by the BBC and it's a matter for them,” the spokesman added.
Mr Sunak, who is visiting the US, said: "I was pleased that the issue with Gary Lineker has been resolved and we can all look forward to watching Match of the Day again - not least as Southampton managed to get a point at the weekend.
"I'll be looking forward to catching up on those highlights when I get back.
"But it was right that that was a matter resolved between the BBC and Gary. I'm glad that that's happened."
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