The Times this morning was reporting on this. John Whittingdale who
really doesn't like the BBC has said a subscription model would be "politically impossible" as the BBC would need to be taken off Freeview (
Times front cover)
If you look at the demographics of who uses Freeview only (
link page 5)
AND the demographics of who votes Conservative (
link
there is some significant crossover. It would be interesting to see the demographics of viewing figures by age but I bet there's a crossover there...
The licence fee may come out at the 'least worst' option after all this