Labour vows to save free TV licences for over-75s
5 years, 2 months ago

Labour vows to save free TV licences for over-75s

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour has vowed to save free television licences for the over-75s if it wins the general election. “Four in 10 older people say the TV is their main source of company, but from next year 3.7 million older people will lose their free TV licence. Our message is clear – vote Labour to save free TV licences.” Both the BBC and the government have come under fierce criticism over the move to end free licences to all people aged over 75. Chair Damian Collins said: “The BBC agreed to fund a pensioner benefit that it couldn’t afford and, as a result, false reassurances were given to the over-75s that their free licence fees would be maintained.” Additional reporting by Press Association

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History of this topic

Hundreds of thousands are ditching the licence fee – and it’s a crisis for the BBC
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Hundreds of thousands are ditching the licence fee – and it’s a crisis for the BBC

The Telegraph  

The decline has been fuelled by calls for a boycott of the licence fee, with campaign groups such as the Taxpayers’ Alliance branding the household levy “archaic and unfair”. Another campaign, calling itself Defund the BBC, has raised concerns about wasteful spending and alleged bias in the broadcaster’s output, as well as its aggressive prosecution of licence fee non-payment, which …

BBC TV licence rises to £169 today - check to see if YOU are eligible for a free one
9 months, 1 week ago

BBC TV licence rises to £169 today - check to see if YOU are eligible for a free one

Daily Mail  

The TV licence fee has gone up by £10.50 today after a price hike was confirmed in December. The TV licence is the broadcaster's primary source of funding, and it goes towards multiple BBC services, including iPlayer, radio, television, and more. According to the UK Parliament website, the BBC accrued a total of £3.74 billion from the licence fee alone, …

Free TV licence application process to be made easier for low-income pensioners
2 years, 6 months ago

Free TV licence application process to be made easier for low-income pensioners

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The BBC last year limited the free TV licences to over-75s in receipt of …

Former BBC News head calls on corporation to ‘stop making lower grade stuff’
2 years, 11 months ago

Former BBC News head calls on corporation to ‘stop making lower grade stuff’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The former head of BBC News has said the corporation …

BBC licence fee’s days could be numbered as two thirds of Britons want it scrapped
2 years, 11 months ago

BBC licence fee’s days could be numbered as two thirds of Britons want it scrapped

The Telegraph  

However, the Culture Secretary has also hinted that the licence fee could be scrapped in five years. Most people would prefer a subscription-style arrangement instead of the current licence fee.” Younger viewers were more likely to say the BBC licence fee was very bad value than older people, a difference attributed to their wider use of Netflix and Amazon. Leave …

BBC licence fee: Hugh Grant calls Tories ‘insecure nut jobs’ over plans to ‘destroy’ broadcaster
2 years, 11 months ago

BBC licence fee: Hugh Grant calls Tories ‘insecure nut jobs’ over plans to ‘destroy’ broadcaster

The Independent  

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hugh Grant has hit out at the …

Nish Kumar and Armando Iannucci criticise Tories over plans to scrap BBC licence fee: ‘P***ed-up cultural vandals’
2 years, 11 months ago

Nish Kumar and Armando Iannucci criticise Tories over plans to scrap BBC licence fee: ‘P***ed-up cultural vandals’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Armando Iannucci and Nish Kumar …

Over-75s will not be threatened with legal action over non-payment of the TV licence fee
3 years, 9 months ago

Over-75s will not be threatened with legal action over non-payment of the TV licence fee

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Over-75s will not be threatened …

Tory-backed group launches ‘Defund the BBC’ campaign
4 years, 2 months ago

Tory-backed group launches ‘Defund the BBC’ campaign

The Telegraph  

A Tory-backed group has launched a campaign to ‘Defund the BBC’ by telling homeowners how to “legally cancel” their licence fee. Tens of thousands of people are due to receive a leaflet which claims viewers who only watch ‘on demand’ programmes, apart from the BBC iPlayer, do not have to pay for a licence. It adds: “Over recent years the …

TV licence website down as BBC introduces fee for over-75s
4 years, 5 months ago

TV licence website down as BBC introduces fee for over-75s

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It will be extremely frustrating for older people to hear how potentially risky the …

Government could decriminalise non-payment of BBC licence fee
4 years, 6 months ago

Government could decriminalise non-payment of BBC licence fee

The Telegraph  

The charity Age UK said the timing of the BBC's decision – when hundreds of thousands of pensioners are still shielding because of the risk of coronavirus – was "another kick in the teeth during a terrible year". Julian Knight, the chairman of the Commons' digital culture, media and sport committee, said the Government had to decide "quickly" whether to …

Non-payment of BBC licence fee 'could be decriminalised'
5 years ago

Non-payment of BBC licence fee 'could be decriminalised'

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Watching TV without having paid the BBC licence fee could …

BBC under fire as 1.7 million pensioners will feel squeeze of TV licence cut
5 years, 2 months ago

BBC under fire as 1.7 million pensioners will feel squeeze of TV licence cut

The Telegraph  

MPs attacked the BBC last night as official data revealed the loss of free TV licences for the over-75s will mean 1.7 million pensioners will see their living standard fall next year. Following the deduction for the licence fee a single pensioner over 75 will see a 1.6 per cent rise in their state pension next year, analysis by Royal …

'The Brexit Bashing Corporation': Boris blasts the BBC over its coverage of the UK's EU departure
5 years, 6 months ago

'The Brexit Bashing Corporation': Boris blasts the BBC over its coverage of the UK's EU departure

Daily Mail  

Boris Johnson has taken a swipe at the BBC's coverage of the UK's departure from the EU, branding it 'the Brexit Bashing Corporation'. Mr Johnson nodded and provoked roars of laughter as he replied: 'The Brexit Bashing Corporation'. Mr Johnson made a direct plea to the corporation to 'look after' older viewers who face having licences means-tested from next year …

Save free TV licences for over-75s by moving BBC operations to the midlands
5 years, 6 months ago

Save free TV licences for over-75s by moving BBC operations to the midlands

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I have yet to see one …

How do I qualify for pension credit to keep my free TV licence?
5 years, 6 months ago

How do I qualify for pension credit to keep my free TV licence?

Daily Mail  

Over-75s who are living in poverty and housebound will be hardest hit by the decision to make them pay for TV licences, according to Age UK. TV watchers: Some 2.2million over-75s have a longstanding illness that keeps them mostly confined to home, says Age UK Only over-75s who claim pension credit, a benefit for the poorest pensioners, will be eligible …

BBC scraps free TV licences for over-75s unless they receive pension credit
5 years, 6 months ago

BBC scraps free TV licences for over-75s unless they receive pension credit

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The BBC’s director-general, Tony Hall, said: “It would not …

Pensioners' free TV licences should be abolished, says Lords committee
5 years, 8 months ago

Pensioners' free TV licences should be abolished, says Lords committee

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Policies such as the state pension triple lock and free TV licences for over-75s were …

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