Anger over move to make over-75s pay for TV licence
CHARITIES and MPs have blasted plans to strip millions of OAPs of free TV licences.
They spoke out after the BBC said it could limit the number of over-75s getting the perk to cut costs.
The deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson said: “This would be a terrible blow to elderly people who struggle to make ends meet.”
He added that such a move would hit “those who are housebound or isolated and rely on their TV to stay in touch with the world”.
Jan Shortt, of the National Pensioners Convention, was also aghast at the idea, saying: “Many problems
[the concession] sought to address are still around. Pensioner
PROTEST Watson
poverty is rising.” She was backed up by Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, who said: “Significant numbers of older people are still poor and reducing pensioner poverty has stalled. “For one in four older people the TV is their main companionship.” At the moment some 4.6 million homes get the free licences.
But the BBC says the subsidy could cost it £745million by 2021-22 – a fifth of its spending – as Britain ages. A discussion paper says it could means test the benefit or scrap it for those living with younger relatives.
A report by Frontier Economics said 46% of households with someone aged 75 or over were among the poorest in terms of incomes in 2000. By 2017, that had fallen to 32%.
Theresa May was challenged about the concession axe by Labour MP Ian Lucas. But she insisted “it was a decision for the corporation”.
Labour introduced the subsidy in 2000 but in 2015 ministers pressured the BBC to start footing the bill.
The BBC takes full responsibility for the subsidy from 2020, with power to decide if it continues.
The Beeb said: “This is an important discussion paper which we are studying carefully. We will do nothing without consulting with the public.”