The Freedom Association's Andrew Allison discusses the House of Lords' decision to vote against the decriminalisation of the TV licence fee.
Given the Parliamentary session is drawing to a close - and given a Conservative mandate is far from certain in the new session - it is unlikely this will receive further consideration for several years. It appears, at least in the short-term, that the BBC's gold plated income is guaranteed for a while longer.
The unelected upper chamber was considering Clause 64 of the Deregulation Bill 2014-15, which seeks to replace the current criminal penalties for TV licence evasion with civil monetary penalties instead.
Speaking out in opposition to Clause 64 were Baron Michael Grade, a former BBC Trust chairman, and Baroness Floella Benjamin, who spent her formative years presenting BBC programme Play School.
Speaking out in opposition to Clause 64 were Baron Michael Grade, a former BBC Trust chairman, and Baroness Floella Benjamin, who spent her formative years presenting BBC programme Play School.
Andrew explains: "It was a tight vote, with 178 Peers voting in favour of an amendment preventing decriminalisation of non-payment until 1 April 2017. 175 Peers voted against the amendment. If you took away those who have either earned a living out of the BBC, still work for the BBC, or have a BBC pension, the vote would have gone the other way."
Read more on the Freedom Association's website.