LAST week we were celebrating the heroes of the Normandy D Day landings, many of these people are now in their 90s.

This week the BBC announces that it is scrapping the free TV licence for the over 75s, which will affect 3.7 million pensioners.

What a total contrast a few days make. Free TV licences for over 75s is a benefit that has been in place since 2003.

The reason it is being scrapped is because the Government has stopped the subsidy to the corporation, and said it is up to them how they carry on, and to just get on with it.

Well so much for the outgoing PM Theresa May’s statement of many months ago that austerity was at an end, it appears this is not the case.

Just a few facts. At this point the state pension in the UK currently stands at £141 a week, while in Spain it is £513, Germany £507, and France £304, so UK pensioners aged over 75 will be now have to stump up £154 for the yearly TV licence on their measly weekly pension of £141.

This is a national disgrace on both counts, firstly the Government must step in and maintain the over 75s free TV licence, and secondly it is high time the state pension was raised significantly, to take many pensioners out of poverty.

Alan Johnson

Bolton Green Party