Why do we still need for pay for BBC?

It’s not been a good week if you’re an old person. The BBC has reneged on its agreement made when negotiating its last round of TV licence increases and is set to force pensioners over 75 to pay for their TV reception from August onwards. Its particularly galling for those who never avail themselves of programmes transmitted by the

BBC and are content to get news and other entertainment from the commercial outlets now available. In any case, there are now more advertisement breaks on the BBC than ever as they are so desperate for viewers.

Councils have decided this is an opportune moment to increase the cost of being cremated. Not satisfied with increasing council tax, they are now set to squeeze the last penny from you as you make your final journey.

Pete Trow

In June 2016, when the UK voted to leave the EU, every MP in Kent was Conservative and the Conservatives had a majority on the county council and on district councils.

It should have been obvious to the meanest intelligence that leaving the EU meant severe problems for cross-channel freight.

As we know how quickly the M20 turns into a parking lot when the Dover-Calais crossing is disrupted, Kent’s Conservative MPs and councillors should have united in demanding urgent action to prepare, including the acquisition of Manston and the upgrading of the road network.

In July 2017, still holding every seat in Kent save one, Kent’s Conservative MPs could and should have copied the Democratic Unionists and extracted a billion pounds investment for Kent.

Instead they turned themselves into a work of modern art – a squadron of barrage balloons, inert, defenceless and full of gas. Joe Egerton you were going to look at some face coverings that we can wear. The ones I have got are too tight around face, can you get some loose ones for me when I come over to see you, or a simple cloth that covers the nose and mouth.”

My reply: “I haven’t done that yet but what I do know is that the idea of a face mask is mainly to protect others NOT you!

“They may give you some protection but unless they fit snugly enough to trap at least some droplets of moisture and the viruses they contain then they are unlikely to be of benefit to anyone. Unless everyone thinks of others and wears one (which I very much doubt) then the whole point of wearing them is lost. Sadly this government is not giving the public very good or clear advice. I think you said your mum was a nurse and if so she may be able to explain how they work. If you have a friend who can sew, maybe they will be able to make you a simple but more comfortable mask. It is looking like masks or at least poor substitute face coverings could also be becoming mandatory for shops etc., something the Chinese and others have been wearing for a long time. When I went to Beijing in 1985 most people wore them in the street, etc, as colds and flu were prevalent at the time.”

I hope this will help reduce the spread of Covid 19. Make sure yours covers your nose as well, unlike some being worn by news reporters on TV!

Tony Monk

Are people still prepared to pay for BBC services?