Heroes one moment, forgotten the next Deputy Leader hits out at FREE licence removal for over 75’s

The government certainly knew what it was doing when it passed the cost of the over 75s TV licence to the BBC. It was only ever going to be a matter of time before the BBC said it couldn’t support the cost of providing free TV licence for our older people and the government could very conveniently wash its hands of whole sorry situation.

The free TV licence for people over 75 was introduced by Labour in 2001 and in 2015 the BBC agreed to to take this over as part of its charter negotiation. The BBC agreed to take responsibility for any future scheme and how it would be paid for from 2020.

You’ve got to question the wisdom of that agreement. The BBC agreed to something it probably had no intention of keeping to get their charter over the line.

And who are the casualties here? Not the government or the BBC thank you very much.

Only last week the government and the BBC were paying tribute to our older people in the D Day commemorations. This week they are quite happy to forget them. Many older people see the television is a lifeline.

We’re reassured that the very poorest will still receive their TV licence free and of course there will be a small number of very comfortably off older people who may feel they don’t need this concession.

But what does it say about what the government and the BBC think of those very many ordinary people stuck in the middle who have to budget carefully to have any sort of quality of life?

I am generally a glass half full person and try to find the good in situations and people. But sometimes I feel ashamed to live in a country where we think it is perfectly fine to honour people one week, then show them utter contempt the next.

There seems to be a groundswell of opinion protesting about this move. Maybe our new prime minister will put this at the top of their to do list when he or she steps over the door of Number 10. I hope so.