Lord Botham renews campaign pledge over TV licence fee for over-75s

BBC: Public share their views on TV licence fee

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The cricket legend said the corporation can afford to waive the fee, especially with many pensioners struggling with the cost of living crisis. Lord Botham, 67, has long campaigned for pensioners who previously received a free licence but now face legal action for not handing over the £159 payment.

The Ashes hero used his guest editorship of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Boxing Day to renew his campaign pledge.

“I still stand by what I said, he told the BBC’s Amol Rajan.

“I would like to see, and hope to see, that our elder statesmen and pensioners are looked after.

“People are talking now about how they’ve got no money – well, I’m sorry, they shouldn’t be getting charged. It’s an institution that’s there for everyone to have and I think the BBC does quite well for itself financially.

“The BBC should look after those people 75 and over. I think we would all be delighted to get a free licence when we get to 75.

More than three million over-75s lost their entitlement to free TV licences in 2020.

The move sparked fears that they would be threatened with legal action over non-payment with the Daily Express and the Silver Voices campaign grouping demanding action from ministers.

Last year Lord Botham, backed by more than 20 members of the House of Lords, urged TV Licensing, which logs whether or not households own a licence, to pledge they will not prosecute over-75s who do not pay.

At the time BBC director-general Tim Davie insisted the corporation would not send any enforcement letters to older people who previously held a free licence.

Although the BBC has held back from prosecuting over 75 refuseniks, licensing officials have continued to send “threatening” letters.

SilverVoices director Dennis Reed said one of his members has received 13 such letters.”

Around one in ten over-75s still refuse to pay the fee.

Analysis by APPEAL shows three-quarters of all prosecutions by TV Licensing for failing to pay the fine after being caught without a licence are against women.

The prosecutions account for 30 per cent of all court cases involving women.

TV Licensing insists it only prosecutes as a “last resort” and it offers other options.

During the summer Tory leadership campaign, Rishi Sunak hinted he was willing to scrap the TV licence fee.

Earlier this year, the government announced the fee will be frozen for the next two years but said its future is up for review.

But the annual bill will continue until at least 2027 when the BBC’s royal charter is up for renewal.

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