MARIE Rimmer is wrong to blame the government for the TV licence increase.


The fault lies clearly with the BBC which continues to pay excessive salaries to “star names” and provide programmes which are of little interest to viewers – and in Scotland attract no interest at all.


The BBC should be forced to compete in the media market instead of having the licence fee to fall back on and, preferably, should only be a news channel.


It is regrettable that Ms Rimmer reverted to party ideology rather than face the fact that the BBC is the voice of the very establishment of which she is an integral part.


Philip Thomas, St Helens