BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Up to 3.7 million pensioners who previously received a free TV licence will now have to pay for it.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertain...eporting-story

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Fair enough imo

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Agreed. Otherwise, you cut the service back so it's unattractive or get the young to pay even more.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

This was inevitable as the population grew.

This is why the Government dumped the reasonability for funding this policy onto the BBC itself, so that when it finally happened they hoped it would be the BBC taking the blame rather than them.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

so, around 87,000 were the deciding factor in the Beebs decision concerning over 3 million others?

Seems like a 52-48 majority suits where applicable ;)

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

The minority deciding for the majority you could say.;)

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Seems fair - those that can't afford it still get it free.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

I wonder how many forgetful over 75's will be harrassed by TVL heavies into an early grave? :scratch:

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Well, it's just another bill, so if they are not being harassed into an early grave by electricity, gas, or water bills, it's highly unlikely they will be by the TV Licence - they get the bill, they pay it (or have a monthly direct debit, like gas, water, electricity, council tax).

Simples...

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

You would hope so but how long before they wriggle out of that..

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Indeed. It is convenient to forget that free licences for over 75s was introduced in 2000 as a labour policy and the funding has been pulled by the current government, leaving the BBC to pick up the bill. See also picking up the bill for the World Service and BBC Monitoring

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Yup: https://twitter.com/christopherhope/...06242889596929

If the Government want and expected the concession to continue they would have kept it themselves instead of handing over this liability to the BBC without an increase in funding and tell them it's 'up to them' what they do with it. They're now disappointed they chose not to fund it in its entirety as the cost of the policy increases year-on-year.

Typical government cowardice. They love to 'take the politics out' of something by moving it an arms-length body or privisating it and then slamming the consequences as if it were nothing to do with them. See rail franchising for another example.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

And of course, pensioners are the new wealthy, according to some.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Not many wealthy pensioners down here in our part of the woods.

Re: BBC to scrap free licence fee for over-75s
 

Pensioners aren't the new wealthy, although some certainly are with how property has increased over the years, but they are a demographic largely isolated from austerity whilst the young have been disproportionately hit. You can get away with that for a while but eventually that portion of the electorate gets bigger.