Not a penny off

The BBC have taken the Tory proposal to freeze the TV licence fee for one year very badly.

They seem to have two arguments.

The first is that they have have a six year plan for income agreed with the government, and would have to make adjustments. Why, with inflation now negative, with the same money income they would even have more to spend? This insistence that they must have a percentage increase will go down well with families of the unemployed, or with shareholders, whose income has been badly reduced!
Even if prices were going up, why should the BBC alone be immune? Perhaps they should reduce their junketing, especially the generous hospitality at Wimbledon. Perhaps they should face a reduction like virtually all other broadcasters.

The second argument, advanced by Sir Michael Lyons on "Toady" this morning, is that the freeze would reduce editorial independence. Given the political bias which is apparent most days, the editorial independence seems to be a licence to favour their causes and individuals.
This argument seems utterly baseless. Why should a frozen increase in income reduce their ability to make decisions without interference?