BBC licence fee is ‘sexist’ and should be replaced by council tax levy on wealthy, insists Nadine Dorries

THE BBC licence fee is sexist and could be axed and replaced with a levy on richer council taxpayers, says the Culture Secretary.

The current system clobbers females with three quarters of criminal fines, Nadine Dorries revealed.

She said: “It’s their name on the rent book, it’s their name on the mortgage, they’re the ones who take responsibility for the kids.”

Ms Dorries has started a year-long review of the fee.

She hinted she could back the German idea, where the licence fee was axed and £15 put on everyone’s council tax — with some exempt.

People on low incomes, students or those without a TV can apply to not pay it.

Ms Dorries added: "A system of a fee just because you own a television set discriminates so heavily against women is something that needs to be looked at.”

She blasted the fee as a “regressive tax” which is the same for everyone – regardless of how much they earn.

She said: "Whatever happens will be fairer than what happens now."