Should the over-75s lose their free TV licences?

IS THERE no end to the BBC’s whingeing about licences? Now it wants to withdraw the free TV licence for pensioners over 75. This from the behemoth that pays huge salaries to Gary Lineker and other so-called stars. What an affront to people who struggle on the state pension. Just getting rid of Lineker would pay for thousands of licences for the elderly. Isn’t it about time to scrap the licence fee and make the BBC pay its own way — like all other media companies? CHRIS EDWARDS,

Fleet, Hants.

THE free TV licence for the over-75s is a government benefit. If the Government wants to modify or remove it, then it should have the guts to do it and not pass the responsibility to the BBC. What next? Winter fuel payments paid for by the energy companies? Bus and rail passes offloaded to travel

companies? There may be a case for changing the criteria for free licences, but not in this underhanded way.

PETER NEILL, Guilden Morden, Cambs.

COME on everyone, be fair. How can the BBC afford to give Gary Lineker a pay rise if it doesn’t scrap the free licence for the over-75s? GRAHAM NUTLEY, Barton-le-Clay, Beds. HOW long before the first

75-year-old is prosecuted for non-payment of their TV licence in protest at being stripped of this benefit? Haven’t pensioners paid enough into the BBC coffers over the years? KEN HOBBINS, Birmingham.

AS AN over-75, I would be happy for the BBC to axe free TV licences providing that it stops its Left-wing bias and showing so many repeats. JOHN LOwARCH, Oswestry, Shropshire.

FREE licences for over-75s should only be scrapped if the BBC limits salaries to a maximum of £500,000. Should Gary Lineker and other stars leave as a result, then so be it.

J. LONG, Cheltenham, Glos.

INSTEAD of a blanket scrapping of TV licences for the over-75s, why not introduce a means test so the poorest still benefit? ROBERT GOSNELL, Southampton.