Dealing with the BBC Gestapo!

Free TV licenses, funded by the government, for all over 75's will come to an end in June 2020. From the 1st June, anyone aged 75 or over receiving Pension Credit, will be eligible to apply for a free TV license paid for by the BBC.

In 2015, the government announced that the BBC would take over the costs of providing free TV licenses for the over 75's by 2020 as part of the fee settlement. In 2017, the Conservative prime minister, Theresa May, made an election pledge to preserve pensioner benefits "for the lifetime of this Parliament", due to run util 2022. But the BBC said that the costs of providing free TV licenses for the over 75's, £745 million, amounted to a fifth of the BBC's total budget by 2021/22. The BBC said: "Funding free TV licenses for all over-75's would have resulted in unprecedented closures."According to the BBC, around 900,000 households are claiming Pension Credit but some 1.5 may be eligible but don't claim the benefit. 

Although the Conservative government have reneged on a manifesto commitment to guarantee free TV licenses for the over 75's until 2022, by passing the buck to the BBC to provide them,  the current Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson, has talked of scrapping the BBC license fee.

From 1st April 2020, the cost of a TV license will increase from £154.50 to £157.50. It is a criminal offence to watch live TV or use BBC iplayer unless you have a valid TV license. You can be prosecuted and issued a fine of up to £1,000 plus court costs. Nineteen people were jailed in 2017, for defaulting on their TV license. The majority of those jailed, were women. A total of 129,446 people were prosecuted for not having a TV license in 2018. TV license enforcement officers also carry out checks at properties, (see above video). One measure that is increasingly being adopted by householders is to serve notice on TV Licensing "Withdrawing Implied Right of Access" to a property and deeming any subsequent approach as harassment.

"Don't Switch Us Off" - Protest outside Media City 12 noon Friday 21 June!

Dear All,

DEMAND GOVERNMENT FUNDS LICENCE FEE FOR PEOPLE OVER 75

Don't Switch Us Off, 12 noon, Friday 21 June, MediaCity, Salford

We are making our protest at Media City. this Friday. Our banner will be joined by Salford Trades Council, Unite Community branch, PCS ARMS branch and others.  There will be protests at local BBC offices across the country. As the National Pensioners Convention says 'I f we fail to protect this concession, the government will begin looking at the winter fuel allowance and the bus pass.'    See below. 

There is a tram to from Piccadilly (Eccles tram) to Media City, also Stagecoach No 50 and GNW ( ex First) No 53,

In solidarity,

Geoff

BBC targeted by protesters over plan to end free TV licenses!

Ricky Tomlinson says Government should fund free TV licenses

THE next likely Conservative Prime Minister, Boris Johnson says he wants to cut taxes for the rich by £10bn pounds. The Tories therefore have their eye on cutting free bus passes for the elderly, winter fuel allowances and free TV licenses for the over 75s, in order to pay for tax cuts for the rich. Despite promising to guarantee free TV licenses for the over 75s until the next General Election in May 2022, they have reneged on this saying it was a cut and paste error in the Manifesto and have given the BBC the responsibility for providing free TV licenses. The BBC have said they will only provided free TV licenses for certain groups such as the over 75s in receipt of pension credit. 

"The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) is calling on local pensioner groups, trade unions, community groups, students, members of the public, MPs and councillors to make a stand on Friday 21 June against:

1. The BBC’s decision to means-test the TV licence for older people

2. The Government’s decision to make the BBC pay for the concession

We are therefore asking campaigners to gather outside their local BBC at 12 noon next Friday to take part in a protest during the lunchtime. Attached you will find a simple black and white A4 poster which we are asking people to print out at home and stick to a piece of cardboard – so that you can take it along to the demo. Local banners and placards are of course also welcome, along with whistles, drums and other instruments.

The NPC is absolutely clear – if we fail to protect this concession, the government will begin looking at the winter fuel allowance and the bus pass. That’s why we need as big a demonstration as possible out on the street next Friday.

If you are intending to organise a demonstration, please let us have the details via info@npcuk.org. Thanks for your support."

Neil Duncan-Jordan

National Officer

NPC