Should BBC keep free TV licences for over-75s?

IT BEGGARS belief that despite the effect of coronavirus upon the elderly, the BBC is forging ahead with its heartless plan to impose the TV licence fee on those aged over 75. Thousands of pensioners like me are ‘just about managing’, as described by Theresa May. I do not receive pension credit or other welfare benefits. As children we lived through World War II and our parents fought for this country. On Remembrance Day, I hope the BBC’s presenters do not have the audacity to wear a poppy.

PETER MADDEN, Mickelton, Glos.

THE BBC has had plenty of time to absorb the extra cost of funding the TV licence for the over-75s by reducing needless other costs. It doesn’t need jobs with fancy titles such as Lead Architect-Identity Transformation with a salary of £80,000. I am passionate about football, but don’t agree I’m getting value for money from excessive salaries paid to sports presenters.

ROGER PARBERY, Hexham, Northumberland.

LIKE many over-75s, I am expecting a demand in the post for £157.50 if I wish to continue watching TV. No doubt it will be wrapped in an insincere apology that such measures are ‘necessary’. It is unfair to be forced to subscribe to a Corporation whose views I am alienated from in order to watch other channels. I’d love to see a legal challenge to determine if, due to the fact it is in breach of its impartiality commitment, the BBC retains the right to collect a fee from every household.

TONY CARMEDY, Navenby, Lincs.

YOUNGER people live in families where there are often two earners on salaries far in excess of the pension. This makes the licence fee disproportionately more expensive for the older generation. I almost never watch the BBC, as I find a lot of its evening programmes offensive, with swearing and bad or moronic behaviour. I do watch the news, but could easily switch to other channels for that. I would prefer the BBC to be a subscription service, as it has branched into services that the average pensioner will never use, or go commercial and pay for its programmes through advertising or sponsorship.

G. HILL, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.