KEIR: TV LICENCE IS A CRUEL MOVE Labour chief slams Bojo for turning back on OAPS
KEIR Starmer has blasted Boris Johnson for pulling the plug on free TV licences for over-75s.
The Labour leader accused the PM of cruelly snubbing pensioners who may have to choose between paying their TV licence and heating their homes.
The attack came as Mr Johnson dug his heels in. He said the BBC “remains responsible” for the perk, in spite of a
Tory manifesto pledge in 2017 to protect it until at least 2022.
The BBC said up to 3.7million homes will have to start paying the £157.50 yearly fee from the start of next month, except those receiving Pension
Credit. The move follows a deal forced on the BBC by the Government in 2015.
Free licences for all over-75s would cost £745million a year. This week Chancellor Rishi Sunak put aside £500million for his “meal deal” discount for restaurant diners.
Sir Keir said: “It’s simply not good enough for the Prime Minister to pass the buck and blame the BBC.
“The PM is turning his back on hundreds of thousands who will struggle to pay this and could be forced to choose between paying their TV licence or their heating this winter.”
He said TV had been essential to many pensioners during coronavirus. “The idea that you could take away so many people’s connection to the outside world is cruel.”
In a statement from No10, Mr
Johnson said: “We are bitterly disappointed by the BBC’S decision not to extend the concession beyond August. The BBC remains responsible for the concession and for setting out what those affected will now need to do.”
He said the financially struggling corporation “should now look urgently at how it can use its substantial licence fee income”.
Furious OAPS organised by the Silver Voices campaign group are threatening to “gum up the works” of the licensing system.
It is considering “creative but legal” ways to complicate payments and increase the cost of collection by stopping direct debits and standing orders in favour of cheques and cash.
An Age UK spokesman said: “A small number of over-75s have also told us they may deliberately break the law as a matter of principle, to express their disgust at the plan.”