TV licences Snow storm
Got enough room for that in your trophy cabinet, Adam? Swingometer star blasts Tories over plan to scrap OAP freebie
FORMER BBC man Peter Snow has urged the Government to scrap its plans to ditch free TV licences for the over-75s.
The “Swingometer” legend, now 81, who presents Planespotting Live on BBC4 next week, blames the Government for the row and says it left the Beeb with no choice.
Free licence fees have previously been funded by taxpayers but the corporation has now been told to foot the bill. Snow said: “It’s the Government’s problem. They pushed it on to the BBC and the BBC simply said, ‘If you are going to do this, we’re going to have to cut programmes’.
“I think the public would agree with me that, yes, it’s nice for over-75s to have a free licence, but it’s not really down to the BBC. It’s SEX shame footballer Adam Johnson grins as he clutches his latest trophy — a tiny award he won for go-karting.
The prize in the shape of a racing driver’s helmet is likely to be the only silverware the fallen star will get his hands on since a conviction wrecked his career.
Johnson clinched first place at a track in Newcastle, where he went to celebrate his 32nd birthday with members of his family. Sister Faye, who stood by down to the Government who thought of the idea originally.
“If the BBC funded it, it would mean less variety and less quality.”
The former Newsnight anchor also backed the idea of giving war veterans the free licence – but only if it is funded by the Exchequer. He added: “Again it’s him during his trial and jailing for sexual activity with a girl of 15, tweeted the photo and said they had enjoyed “a great day”.
Ex-England and Sunderland winger Johnson — a member of the Manchester City team that won the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League title in 2012 — has kept a low profile since being released in March.
He returned to his £2million mansion in Co Durham after serving half of a six-year term. the Government’s business. I think the Government will find the money in the end.”
Planespotting goes out over three nights but Snow admits he struggles to identify most aircraft.
He said: “I find it very difficult to tell the difference between a 787 and 777, and also the A350 and the Boeings. It’s not easy.
“On the programme they want me to be the ordinary man in the street who is querying the interest people have in this thing.”