Gordon Brown argues against paywalls

Prime minister Gordon Brown has added his voice to the argument against paywalls, saying that consumers are now used to getting content for free.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Brown said: “People have got used to getting content without having to pay.

“I don’t think you are going to be able to put things behind paywalls in the way that people think.”

He added: “‘People will pay for certain things, and should pay for certain things, but I think there’s a whole sort of element of communication that’s got to be free. People mind paying for basic news.”

News International recently announced that it is putting up paywalls around the Times and Sunday Times websites from June, with the Sun and News of the World expected to follow.

Brown also rallied against political interference regarding the Corporation’s licence fee. “The licence fee is essential to the BBC. Any proposal to massively cut the fee or to strip the BBC of its independence – or alternatively, to remove its ability to make certain programmes – is a huge mistake.

“I don’t think politicians should make that decision about what the BBC produces. I think the BBC should make that decision.”