Plea to keep over-75s’ TV licence perk

Dad’s description of pets before they mauled newborn son

CRITICAL Tom Watson LABOUR has urged the Government to stop the BBC scrapping free TV licences for over-75s.

From 2020 the corporation will take over funding of the perk from the state.

But the BBC says cuts needed to meet the cost would “fundamentally change the BBC”.

The shortfall would be a fifth of its budget, equivalent to spending on BBC2, 3, and 4, the News Channel, CBBC and CBeebies.

Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson said: “The Government should never have privatised welfare policy in this way.

“Labour opposed this move from the start.”

BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “We need to hear views to help the BBC make the best and fairest decision.”

Baby Reuben is fighting for his life in hospital TEARS Weatherall AMY LITCHFIELD’S DAD PAUL ON ATTACK ON HIS GRANDSON PARENTS Amy Litchfield, Dan McNulty A DAD allegedly described his pet Staffordshire bull terriers as his “babies” months before one of them mauled his newborn son.

Dan McNulty, 31, made the remark to a neighbour shortly before his partner Amy Litchfield, 28, gave birth to Reuben, it was claimed yesterday.

The tot, just one month old, is critically ill after being attacked by one of the dogs, Fizz and Dotty.

The neighbour, who wants to remain anonymous, told the Mirror: “When Amy was pregnant I said to Dan, ‘What are you going to do about the dogs?’. He told me, ‘The dogs are our babies’.”

The pair were at Reuben’s bedside yesterday as he fought for his life in hospital. He was attacked at their flat in Yaxley, Cambridge, on Sunday.

DOCILE

Amy has posted scores of photos of her dogs and son on Facebook.

Her dad Paul yesterday said the animals were “docile” and insisted his grandson was injured in a “freak accident”, adding of the pets: “They have never been dangerous before.”

Speaking of the parents, Paul went on: “They’re in bits, they’re devastated like everyone. They’ve done nothing wrong, and the way it’s being portrayed at the minute is they’re horrible parents.

“They bloody aren’t, they’ve been fantastic. It’s a silly, freak accident.”

Reuben was taken to a local hospital then a specialist neo-natal intensive care unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambs.

Paul has visited Reuben. He said he is “in a bad way”.

Police said a man, 31, and 28-year-old woman, both of Yaxley, have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and released on bail.

They refused to confirm their identities. The two dogs are in police kennels.

They’re in bits and they’ve done nothing wrong, it’s a silly, freak accident