There was more than a smidgeon of irony last week when the BBC confirmed its decision to axe free TV licences for the over 75s – just a matter of days after its programming lauded the older generation for their efforts during the Second World War.
More than a million of the veterans who fought for this country’s freedoms will be affected come next year when the perk will be means-tested, meaning only households which receive pension credit will be available.
But did we all honestly expect anything less when the UK government passed on the burden of funding free licences on to the BBC as part of an updated charter agreement?
Ministers, including the departing Prime Minister Theresa May, were on our screens – the very screens many pensioners probably won’t be able to enjoy for much longer – to express their “sadness” and “disappointment” that the BBC would not continue, but to me their grandstanding was buck passing of the highest order.
Not that the Beeb was shying away from any sort of guilt trip either of course, with bosses banging on about “fairness” and suggesting that BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, the BBC Scotland channel, Radio 5live, and a number of local radio stations would all have been at risk if the decision was not taken.
Garbage. The opportunity arrived to make some extra cash and the Beeb’s hierarchy have taken it, instead of perhaps revisiting some of the ridiculous salaries the Corporation’s so-called “stars” are raking in.
TV is one of the things that keeps older folk going.
It’s a lifeline for many older people, and I believe it’s only right that the people who have worked all of their life and have been paying into the system all their life should be allowed to keep that little bit the system was giving them back.
Tens of thousands of older Fifers will now be seriously considering doing without their telly because the licence fee is a luxury they can’t afford.
I’ve heard all the arguments that “rich” pensioners should pay for it, and I’m sure that guys like Sir Mick Jagger see the £150-odd licence fee as loose change. There are plenty older people across the Kingdom with a few bob stashed away somewhere, and good on them.
But what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so if these policies are being applied then they should be applied across the board.
The old adage ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ comes to mind, because where does this sort of thing stop?
I can’t imagine the Scottish Government would consider mugging the over 60s for their free bus passes, but if the concessionary travel scheme was to be reviewed then you’d see a similar sort of backlash – if not worse.
Hopefully common sense is applied and the decision is reversed, but now the BBC have been given carte blanche to pull its own strings I fear the chances of that happening are exceedingly remote.
