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City MP hits out at Government as veterans hounded over TV licences

By 23 August 2019September 8th, 2022No Comments

Stephen Morgan MP has expressed disgust over news that 900,000 veterans will now have an additional bill to contend with.

As of next June, the Government has decided to betray pensioners by performing an unprecedented U-turn on their previous promise to safeguard benefits for over 75s.

The new rules mean that only those who receive pension credit will be eligible for the free TV licence. This leaves the door open to injustice, says city MP Stephen Morgan.

Mr Morgan said:

“Of the 80% of pensioners set to lose out, over 900,000 are brave veterans who have gone above and beyond to protect this great nation. How is the Government paying tribute to them? By leaving another hefty bill on their doorstep.

The fact that the Government has rescinded this vital benefit will mean that some veterans will now be hounded to pay for their TV licence.

At a time when Mr Johnson has just offered a tax cut to the highest earners, I find this morally repugnant.”

The policy U-turn has sparked outrage amongst charities such as Age UK and MP’s from across the house because the Conservatives pledged in their 2017 snap general election manifesto to maintain free TV licences for the rest of this Parliament, due to run until 2022.

The Portsmouth South MP said:

“Some of those veterans affected will have fought in Korea, The Falkland Islands, Bosnia, Iraq and other areas where they selflessly put themselves in harm’s way in the name of this nation. What sort of country have we become where the Government brutally strips away vital benefits one at a time from the individuals who have given the most?

I will not stand idly by while this Government acts like some kind of Twisted Robin Hood, taking from the citizens who give the most and giving to the highest earners.

I will continue to raise this matter both in and outside parliament until the Government realises the consequences of its ill-thought actions.”

Stephen Morgan MP has already taken decisive action against the implementation of the policy.

So far, he has written out to over 10,000 Portsmouth people in his patch asking for feedback, met with Age UK, spoken out in Parliament, delivered a speech in a Westminster Hall debate, voiced concerns with the Minister responsible and met with local pensioners groups.