LABOUR: WE’LL SAVE FREE TV LICENCES
Promise to protect vital benefit for 3.7 million over-75s
JEREMY Corbyn has vowed to keep TV licences free for pensioners if Labour wins power, after the Tories betrayed 3.7 million people by axing them.
His deputy Tom Watson branded the decision to strip over-75s of the benefit “utterly callous”. He said: “Our message is clear, vote Labour to save free TV licences.”
The Tories gave responsibility for funding the free licences to the BBC, which claims it cannot afford the annual £745million bill. It means hard-up OAPs will have to pay £154.50 a year from June.
JEREMY Corbyn’s decision to keep TV licences free for pensioners if he gets into power sparked joy among campaigners.
Deputy leader Tom Watson vowed the party would overturn the Tory decision to axe the benefit from next June for the 3.7 million over-75s who do not get Pension Credit.
The Shadow Culture Secretary said: “The Tory decision to scrap free TV licences for over-75s is utterly callous.
“Four in 10 older people say the TV is their main source of company, but from next year 3.7 million older people will lose their free licence. It’s disgraceful. Our message is clear, vote Labour to save free TV licences.” Actor Ricky Tomlinson is among the celebs who have backed the Mirror’s campaign to save the free licences, which will cost OAPs £154.50 a year if they are axed. The 80-year-old said: “I absolutely agree with Tom Watson. It’s a disgrace to try to withdraw the TV licences from pensioners. It’s all they have got, some of them depend on their television for their news, for finding out what’s going on. “Some people are lonely, they are locked away on their own.
“It is common sense what Labour is announcing. We are supposed to look after the old-aged pensioners.
“Why do we take away from the people that have got nothing in the first place?” Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams added: “The general election is a perfect opportunity to ensure that whoever forms the next government takes steps to keep TV licences free for all over-75s.
“This government’s decision to abandon this highly valued universal entitlement, that’s been in place for a generation, has caused real dismay, prompting approaching a million people of all ages to sign petitions.
Many older people are especially worried and angry about this.
“TV is the main form of companionship for two in five over-75s and much more than a box in the corner of the room.
“It is a window on the world and often their main source of news, entertainment and company.”
Mr Corbyn was yesterday out campaigning in preparation for the December 12 general election.
Ahead of an announcement by the party today on keeping TV licences free for over-75s, he visited pensioner Sue Clark, 84, at her home in Islington, North London.
The Tories broke a 2017 election manifesto pledge not to axe the vital lifeline for the elderly.
In fact, it had already handed responsibility for funding the licences to the BBC under a cynical deal stitched up in 2015.
The Corporation said keeping them free would have cost it £745million – a fifth of its budget – by 2021-22.
Bosses warned they may have to axe some services to meet the cost.
Only 1.5 million pensioners would qualify for the free licences under the means-tested system of being in receipt of Pension Credits.
More than 20,000 readers have backed our campaign by completing coupons in the paper.
Former PM Gordon Brown, who brought in free licences for the elderly when he was Chancellor in 1999, also supports our fight.
And more than 600,000 have signed Age UK’s Switched Off petition calling for free licences to be saved and for the
Government to fund them.
Rattled Boris Johnson yesterday tried to head off criticism of his party’s betrayal to pensioners. He said: “This needs sorting out urgently and I’ll be talking to the BBC about how to sort that out.”
But he has previously claimed he would “put the screws” on Beeb bosses, while repeatedly trying to dodge blame for the row.
The Corporation has insisted it has reached the “fairest decision we can in funding free TV licences for the poorest pensioners, while protecting BBC services”.
But Bectu broadcasting union boss Philippa Childs said: “It is not the role of the BBC to determine who should and shouldn’t get a free licence.
“A general election provides the opportunity for parties to commit to funding the over-75s TV licence.”
LABOUR’S promise to save free TV licences for over-75s from the Tory axe is another great reason to vote for the party in the looming general election.
Deputy leader Tom Watson’s pledge to keep the benefit – introduced by a previous Labour government – illustrates why Labour justifiably claims it is for the many and the Conservatives only for the wealthy few.
Saving 3.7million senior citizens from paying £154.50 each to watch TV, often the only friend many have, is worthwhile in itself. In the run up to Remembrance Sunday, we must never forget the people who would be clobbered include D-Day and other wartime veterans.
Yet the TV licence row, with Tory cowards breaking a 2017 manifesto commitment to retain them by trying to pass blame on to the BBC, goes to the heart of a political divide.
Labour believes in building a country working for everyone, promoting social justice and spreading prosperity with decent public services and a vibrant welfare state binding communities together so nobody is left behind.
Johnson’s Tory Party is the political wing of a wealthy elite demanding benefits and services be slashed in the interests of those rich few who will be gifted huge tax cuts.