Same as hospitals. The BBC, done well, is a great public asset. It is one of the most effective engines of British soft power. It has to be a reliable source of information. It innovates television by not prioritising a profit motive.

Laugh it up. Yes that’s all gone to shit now, but what we’ve got is still better than not having it (source: have lived long term in countries without state broadcasting), and hopefully it can excel at its core functions one day. Again: that’s what we hope for with our other public services that were wrecked by the Tories.

Let me go back to front in the queue. Why should you not use it and pay for it?

Community outreach. People living near or far from you would benefit from getting BBC news at their houses. Imagine a Ukrainian family took refuge in your country but they still just had a government tent or shack. But even if they’re on the border of nowhere they can get the BBC on satellite.

I’m a motherfucking American and the first thing I check in the morning is BBC