More than half-a-million sign a petition against scrapping free TV licences

ANGER at the BBC’s move to scrap a universal scheme to provide free TV licences to the over-75s shows no sign of abating.

Famous television faces have staged protests against the controversial move and a staggering 572,253 people have signed Age UK’s petition ‘Switched Off: Save free TV for older people’ within days.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “The fact that our SwitchedOff petition now has more than half a million signatures shows the strength of public feeling about the unfairness of the Government scrapping free TV licences for over-75s, and remember that about half of this age group — 47 per cent — are not themselves online. 

“Ever since the BBC announced its decision to means test the free TV licence from June 2020 we have been inundated at Age UK with phone calls, emails and petition sign ups, to the extent that our IT has sometimes struggled to cope.”

Age UK says for over a million of the oldest people in the country, television is their main form of company adding that most vulnerable older people in society will suffer “a big blow to their pockets and quality of life”.

Ms Abrahams said: “Make no mistake, if this scheme goes ahead we are going to see sick and disabled people in their eighties and nineties who are completely dependent on their cherished TV for companionship and news, forced to give it up.

"Means-testing may sound fair but in reality it means at least 650,000 of our poorest pensioners facing a big new annual bill they simply can’t afford, because though eligible for Pension Credit they don’t actually get it.”

Her views are echoed by local people The Bolton News spoke to.

Ian Johnson, from Doffcocker, aged 66, said: “I’m in agreement that the licences should carry on.

“I find it incredible that some of the people who work for the BBC are paid such a large amount of money when some people over-75 decide whether to put bread and butter on the table or get a television licence.”

Brian White, aged 65, said: “They should keep the TV licence for the over-75s and get rid of BBC Parliament because nobody must watch that.

“It must cost so much to film that so why does not that pay for the licence.”

He added: “A lot of elderly people are lonely and on their own and need that comfort of a television.”

Mr White said that those just over the threshold for pension credit would struggle.

“Some might be only £1 over the threshold, “ said Mr White.

Cait Smith, who works for Bolton Armed Forces Centre for Veterans, described as “disgusting” the move to scrap TV licences.

“The timing was even worse,” she said. “The BBC covered the D-Day commemorations and when they were over, they said by the way we know you are veterans but you can pay for your TV licences.”

She said for many elderly people and veterans having a television set was important.

“Some are isolated,” she said, “they cannot get out so their TV is only the contact they have all week but they haven’t got the money to pay it.”

Miss Smith said: “Some people won’t be entitled to a free licence because their pension is a penny above the rate to get pension credit. They have worked all their lives, get their pension, which is not enough, but are a penny above to get any other help so wouldn’t get it.

"They won’t fill forms for pension credit , they have never had to do it. They have worked all their lives and paid in all their lives.”

BBC bosses have said shouldering the cost of over 75s licence fees stemmed from Conservative austerity.

Director-general Lord Tony Hall claims that cuts and an incoming Tory government lie behind the BBC decision to take on the expensive concession, which would have cost the broadcaster £725 million by 2020.

The Government has also been criticised for a lack of transparency in negotiations over the BBC’s charter, which enshrined the duty to pay for over-75s licences.

The corporation will now means test the licence to prevent financial risk to other services. Lord Hall said that the arrangement was a good deal at the time in 2015, at the “height of austerity”.

The manner in which charters are negotiated with government has also been criticised as “extremely poor” and happening “behind closed doors”.

Ms Abrahams said: “Although it was the BBC’s decision to means-test the free TV licence for over-75s, the real blame for this situation lies with the Government, which pushed the responsibility onto our national broadcaster without the money to pay for it. 

“Whoever the next PM turns out to be, we will be calling on them to step in and do right by our older population by keeping the free TV licence going – at least until 2022 when it can be considered as part of the next BBC funding settlement. 

“If the Government wants to change it then let’s have a proper public discussion about it.

“That’s the least older people deserve.” To sign the petition visit www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/save-free-tv-for-older-people/