Ian Austin urges BBC to rethink TV licences plan
The Government has been urged to put pressure on the BBC to rethink its controversial decision to scrap free TV licences for the over 75s.
Ian Austin MP says the broadcaster's move to get rid of the £154.50-a-year benefit would leave more than 50,000 Black Country pensioners without a free licence from 2020.
The Dudley North MP said he had written to the Culture Secretary and the BBC in protest at the decision, having been inundated with calls and emails from furious constituents.
Under the BBC's plans, the TV licence will be means-tested in future and only given free to those who receive pension credit.
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Mr Austin said: “It's appalling to hear that millions of older people across the country are set to lose their TV licence in 2020, despite the Conservatives’ manifesto pledge to protect free TV licences until 2022.
“Lots of residents have contacted me since Mondays’ announcement and I have written in protest to the Culture Secretary and the BBC.
“I know how important free TV licences are in tackling loneliness and isolation for older people so I think the BBC need to change this decision urgently.
“So I am calling on the Government to put pressure on the BBC to protect free TV licences for over 75s and ensure that this terrible decision is reversed.”
Mr Austin has supported Age UK’s campaign to keep TV licences free for the over 75s.
Charity director Caroline Abrahams, said: “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.”
Across the West Midlands a total of 278,000 households are set to lose out, at a cost of nearly £42m annually.
Ministers decided to allow the BBC to take over the cost of providing free licences for over-75s in 2015, as part of the licence fee settlement.
The broadcaster says it would cost the taxpayer £745m by 2021-22, a fifth of its budget, and would have resulted in "unprecedented closures".
Labour has blamed the government, with deputy leader and West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson accusing Theresa May of breaking a manifesto pledge.
"It is an outrage that this Government is overseeing the scrapping of free TV licenses for three million older people, leaving a Tory manifesto promise in tatters," he said.
"In the same week that Boris Johnson has championed tax cuts for the rich, the Conservative Government has delivered yet another ruthless welfare cut to some of the most vulnerable people in our society."
