TV licence

[kernelbogey]

The BBC has just announced that free licences will end for most over-75s from August.

Guardian preliminary report here.

[Flay]

They weren't free. They were paid for by others.

[Dave2002]

The BBC has just announced that free licences will end for most over-75s from August.

Guardian preliminary report here.

In the context of the very much larger sums of money (though probably insufficient) which have been thrown at Covid-19 related problems, this seems pathetic.

[oddoneout]

In the context of the very much larger sums of money (though probably insufficient) which have been thrown at Covid-19 related problems, this seems pathetic.

That's going to be true for many things I fear.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'd been looking forward to reaching my 75th birthday this coming November ever since I started paying the license fee.

[Bryn]

I'd been looking forward to reaching my 75th birthday this coming November ever since I started paying the license fee.

The decision is ultimately the government's. It was they who passed the buck to the BBC. Over 75s should bear that in mind when next called up on to vote in a parliamentary, or indeed local, election.

[Serial_Apologist]

The decision is ultimately the government's. It was they who passed the buck to the BBC. Over 75s should bear that in mind when next called up on to vote in a parliamentary, or indeed local, election.

Hmm. I'm not sure where Labour stands, or stood, on this particular issue?

[Padraig]

The decision is ultimately the government's. It was they who passed the buck to the BBC. Over 75s should bear that in mind when next called up on to vote in a parliamentary, or indeed local, election.

Bryn, I have never missed an opportunity to protest against tyranny in over 60 years. It never gave me any sense of satisfaction at all. But, I'll do it again if parliamentary democracy prevails.

[Bryn]

Hmm. I'm not sure where Labour stands, or stood, on this particular issue?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/labour-leader-keir-starmer-backs-22305609

Not that I am in any way recommending voting for Labour candidates. There are other political parties which were not involved in the decision to pass the buck to the BBC.

[Serial_Apologist]

Bryn, I have never missed an opportunity to protest against tyranny in over 60 years. It never gave me any sense of satisfaction at all. But, I'll do it again if parliamentary democracy prevails.

Amid much repeated talk among the opinion formers of those of us of the baby boom generation having disproportionately advantaged ourselves at the expense of today's young, who undoubtedly face futures not of OUR making that are in every way less secure than ours are being claimed to be, it might be a mistake to over-estimate the amount of support likely to be garnered among the populace as a whole. There are even people in our age group who are being made to feel guilty for saving up against the imponderables and insecurities of old age.

Talk about divide-and-rule - it really stinks!

[Serial_Apologist]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...backs-22305609

Not that I am in any way recommending voting for Labour candidates. There are other political parties which were not involved in the decision to pass the buck to the BBC.

Least worst option, innit...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Hmm. I'm not sure where Labour stands, or stood, on this particular issue?

It was a Labour govt who introduced free licences with the taxpayer funding it. When the govt asked the BBC to take over the funding as part of the austerity programme the move was opposed by the Labour party.

[Serial_Apologist]

It was a Labour govt who introduced free licences with the taxpayer funding it. When the govt asked the BBC to take over the funding as part of the austerity programme the move was opposed by the Labour party.

So I see now. Thanks!

[Ein Heldenleben]

So I see now. Thanks!

my memory is a bit hazy but I think the licence fee was actually increased over inflation to allow for the over 75 funding and the rollout of digital tv rather than a direct grant from tax. I think it was Gordon Brown who set this up. Quite a few people at the time thought this might be a bit of a poisoned chalice.

[Bryn]

So I see now. Thanks!

Over 75s living in my ward will be harder hit. The Town Council (as against the Borough Council) currently funds a rebate of a proportion of the Licence Fee for those between the ages of 65 and 74 (there having been no need for such a rebated for those 75 and over due to the lack of a need for such people to purchase a TV Licence). However, in March this year, they announced that they were unable to extend the current rebate scheme to those 75 or over when the BBC ceases to provide free licences for over 75s.