Pensioner on GMB slams plan to end free TV licences for over-75s
A pensioner has lashed out on live television over the BBC's plan to scrap free TV licences for over-75s.
Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain show on Friday, Maureen, 82, said it was unfair for her generation to have to pay the £157.50 fee after having already lived through the hardship of Britain's post-World War Two years.
"This is partly the Government's fault. It was the Government's initiative and they have dumped it on the BBC, so my heart does go out to them and I am very sorry they have been lumbered with this problem
"But I think it is a small price to pay for the misery and conditions that the misery and the conditions that this particular group of people had to put up with after the [Second World] war."
Maureen, who did not give her surname, also said she was concerned that the decision to make over-75s pay for their TV licence would force many elderly people into not purchasing one in order to ensure other bills continue to be paid.
She added: "10 years of austerity have put is in a very bad place, we have lost all our benefits and we have been struggling now for 10 years on a miserable pension.
"Fortunately, as a teacher I had a teacher's pension scheme, so I am one of the lucky ones, but I would like to speak up for those who are stranded on the standard pension."
Her comments came after Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Thursday he felt “let down” by the BBC over its decision to end the free TV licence for over-75s.
Speaking at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, he said people “up and down the country” would feel the same way about the BBC’s move to begin means-testing in August.
The new scheme was originally meant to start on June 1, but was delayed and kept under review because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The BBC has said that continuing the universal entitlement would hit “programmes and services”.
Mr Dowden said: “I very much regret the decision that the BBC has taken. We gave the settlement to the BBC back in 2015.
“They said that it was a good settlement, and I regret that they couldn’t find efficiency savings in order to avoid having to impose the licence fee on the over-75 in the way that they have set out.”
He added: “I feel let down that the BBC haven’t funded this.
“I’m sure people up and down the country will feel let down that they haven’t funded it.
“Our manifesto said we thought that they should fund it, I’ve made that position clear to the BBC and I’ve not changed my mind on that.”
BBC chairman Sir David Clementi meanwhile said that “implementation of the new scheme will be Covid-19 safe”, adding the “BBC could not continue delaying the scheme without impacting on programmes and services”.
The BBC vowed safety will be at the “heart” of the scheme, as “no-one needs to take any immediate action, or leave their home, to claim for a free TV licence or pay for one”
The BBC has been under “severe financial pressure due to the pandemic”, he added.
The corporation has launched a programme of voluntary redundancy as it attempts to make £125 million in savings this year, on top of the previous £800 million savings target, due to the Covid-19 crisis.
It has also announced job cuts in TV news and local radio in England and said it was axing more than 150 roles in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It also plans to cut around 450 jobs in BBC News, to take place at a later date.
Sir David went on: “I believe continuing to fund some free TV licences is the fairest decision for the public, as we will be supporting the poorest, oldest pensioners without impacting the programmes and services that all audiences love.”
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams meanwhile said that in “reality the principal responsibility lies with the Government”.
The “Government cannot absolve itself of responsibility for the upset and distress being caused to many of our over-75s today”, she said, adding: “The sadness is that these older people have already endured so much over the last few months.”
She continued: “We’re bitterly disappointed by this decision on behalf of the millions of over-75s who have had a torrid time over the last few months and for whom this must feel like another kick in the teeth, during a terrible year.”
The free TV licence was introduced in 2000, but the BBC agreed to take on responsibility for funding the scheme as part of the charter agreement hammered out with the Government in 2015.
The broadcaster, which faces increased competition from streaming giants, has said it cannot afford to take on the financial burden from the Government.
Continuing with the Government scheme would have cost the corporation £745 million, the BBC said, meaning the closures of BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5 Live, and a number of local radio stations, as well as other cuts and reductions.
The BBC first announced the end of the universal entitlement last year, in a move which provoked a swathe of criticism from the likes of Dame Helen Mirren and former prime minister Gordon Brown, who said: “Costs should be covered by the Government.”
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