50,000 OAPs in ‘poverty’ if free TV licence axed

MORE than 50,000 over-75s could be pushed below the poverty line if free TV licence are scrapped, a charity warns.

The startling figures were uncovered by Age UK which is campaigning to keep TV free for older people – over a million of whom say it is their main source of companionship.

But more than four million may have to fork out £150.50 after the Government handed funding to the BBC, despite a pledge not to scrap it. It is feared the Beeb will not be able to afford the £720million annual bill.

The Mirror is calling on the Government to continue to pay.

Age UK is warning the licence fee will cause distress to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable OAPs who are already struggling. It has launched a petition signed by more than 30,000 people. Caroline Abrahams, director at Age UK, said: “Millions of rely on their TV as their window on the world.

“The threat of pensioner poverty has not been vanquished... In fact official statistics make it clear progress has gone into reverse.” Labour’s Tom Watson added: “We know there are millions of older people who struggle to get by. It’s callous of the Government to sit by while free TV licences are taken away. The BBC said it had launched a consulatation and said: “We’re conscious that pensioner poverty is still an issue for some.”

FOR many elderly people having a TV is not a luxury but a lifeline with a million saying it is their main companionship.

For the housebound or chronically ill, a TV is a crucial link with the outside world, which is why over-75s so value having a free licence.

This small benefit is now at risk because of the Tory government and Age UK says this could push 50,000 below the breadline.

In a cynical move the Conservatives passed responsibility for funding free licences to the BBC, which says it can no longer afford it.

The Tories made a manifesto commitment to keep free TV licences, so the Government should step in and pay up.

Well-paid Cabinet ministers may regard the £150-a-year cost as loose change. For hardpressed pensioners it can mean the difference between having the heating or the telly on.

Scrapping free TV licences would broadcast to the nation how callous this Government is.