Sunak to BLOCK biggest BBC license fee increase in 40 years - PM blasts 'be REALISTIC!'
BBC has to be 'realistic' about future licence fee increases, says PM
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The BBC is right to "cut its cloth appropriately" Rishi Sunak has said in the wake of savings unveiled by the corporation which included the radical curtailing of its decades-old Newsnight programme.
Sunak was pressed on an upcoming renewal of the BBC's charter in 2027 on his visit to the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.
He said: "It is welcome that the BBC are looking at making savings and efficiencies in how they operate.
WATCH HERE: Chris Hope questions Rishi Sunak at Cop28
"It's really important that when things are difficult everyone is doing what they can to ease the cost of living on families.
"That's certainly what I have done over the last year and made a bunch of decisions that haven't been easy.
"But that's helped to bring inflation down to ease the burden and the cost of living."
Sunak added: "The BBC like any other organisation that serves the public should be looking to do that and cut its cloth appropriately so I think that is very welcome.
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Rishi Sunak at Cop28PA"I think going forward ... the BBC should be realistic about what it can expect people to pay at a time like this.
"That, I think is the right approach."