SAVE FREE TV, BORIS TELLS BBC

BORIS Johnson urged the BBC to “cough up” cash for saving free TV licences for pensioners aged over 75.

As his angry war of words with the corporation over the issue intensified, the Prime Minister revealed his irritation at the broadcasting giant for resisting pressure to reverse its decision to scrap the benefit for nearly four million elderly people from next year.

He said: “The BBC received a settlement which was conditional upon their paying for TV licences for the over-75s. They should cough up.”

His outburst gives further

backing to the Daily Express crusade to save the pensioner benefit.

Mr Johnson promised to find a way to save the free licences – a policy commitment in the 2017 Tory general election manifesto – during his campaign for the Conservative leadership.

His remarks were seen as an indication that he will not let the matter drop.A close ally of the Prime Minister said: “He feels very strongly about this. He really thinks the BBC should sort this out. We’re not going to let them off the hook.”

Responding to Mr Johnson last night, a BBC spokesman said: “It was the Government who decided to stop funding free TV licences for the over75s, and Parliament gave responsibility to the BBC to make a decision on the future of the scheme.

“There was no guarantee the BBC would continue to fund free licences for the over-75s, as the Culture Secretary at the time has confirmed.

“We’ve reached the fairest decision we can in funding free TV licences for the poorest pensioners, while protecting BBC services.

“If the BBC funded all TV licences for the over-75s, it would mean the closure of BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC News, BBC Scotland, Radio 5 Live and several local radio stations.

“It is a matter for the Government if it wishes to restore funding for free licences for all over-75s.” Free TV licences for older people were first introduced in 2000. Years later, in 2015, the then-chancellor George Osborne struck a deal with the BBC in which corporation picked up the bill for the benefit from 2020/21 as part of a charter renewal.

From next June, many over-75s will be forced to pay £154.50 for a TV licence unless they receive Pension Credit. BBC chiefs have said it currently costs £745million to fund free licences for all over-75s, with the bill set to rise as a result of the growing elderly population. However, the broadcaster spent £159million on presenter pay in 2018 – up almost £11million in a year.

Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting trade union Bectu, said it was “disappointing” to hear Mr Johnson “continue with the narrative that the BBC knew what they were taking on”.

She said: “The reality is that they were given little or no choice at the time, when austerity was at its peak and ministers were looking for a way to pass the buck on taking difficult decisions about welfare payments. I’m sure that millions of over-75s who are set to lose the benefit will not forgive him for this betrayal.

“He could have chosen to do the right thing by them, recognising that loneliness in old age is a significant issue and agree that the Government should fund the benefit in full.”

Labour’s deputy leader, shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, also accused Mr Johnson of “trying to blame the BBC for his own Government’s policy”.

He added: “This Government must stop passing the buck and step in to fund the free TV licences today.”

James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said Mr Johnson was “tuning in to the public mood” but said “many Brits are wondering why anyone should have to pay a TV tax” in the first place.

A No10 source last night said: “The Government agreed the licence fee settlement with the BBC in 2015.

“At the time, the director-general said it was strong deal for the BBC and provided financial stability.

“It saw BBC income boosted by requiring iPlayer users to have a licence, and unfroze the licence fee for the first time since 2010 – with it rising each year with inflation.

“In return, we agreed responsibility for the over-75 concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020. The BBC must honour this agreement.”

THE BBC is resisting calls for it to keep TV licences free for pensioners over the age of 75, despite overwhelming demand for it to do so.

Now Boris Johnson has thrown his weight behind the Daily Express’s crusade to save the widely-valued pensioner benefit.And rightly so.

At the G7 summit in Biarritz, the Prime Minister said the BBC should “cough up”.

He was explicit about his irritation at the corporation for resisting pressure to reverse its decision to scrap the benefit for nearly four million elderly people from next year.

“The BBC received a settlement which was conditional upon their paying for TV licences for the over-75s. They should cough up,” Johnson said.

The BBC, of course, claims that to provide free licences would result in a massive cut in its budget – but Downing Street says the Prime Minister is not going to let it off the hook.

There are precious few advantages in life as we grow older, so the occasional benefit is deserved by people who have paid taxes – and their TV licences – all their lives.

And this is certainly one of the scarce benefits for the elderly which should be maintained. The BBC should cough up. It is a small price to pay.