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We must work together to stop snatching of free TV licence for over-75s

By 21 May 2019September 8th, 2022No Comments

MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has vowed to work with others in the city to stop the Government taking away free TV licences for the over-75s

The commitment comes after the city MP hosted a roundtable summit with representatives of The Portsmouth Pensioners Association.

The discussions held in the MP’s constituency office, were an opportunity for Mr Morgan to set out the campaign undertaken to date to force the Government to listen to pensioner concerns.

Feedback from hundreds of constituents has found that the Government’s regressive prospective policy to axe free TV licences for over-75s would impact on quality of life and efforts to tackle social isolation.

The summit also provided an opportunity for Portsmouth Pensioners to contribute their ideas and provide feedback to the MP on other social policy concerns.

Stephen Morgan MP said:

“I am deeply concerned by the Government action, and inaction, towards our city’s pensioners in so many ways. The prospect of older people losing their free TV licence makes a mockery of the claim that austerity is over.

The summit was an excellent opportunity to inform the well-respected Portsmouth Pensioners of the work that I have been doing on their behalf and in particular concerns over the Government plans for the TV licence.

Pensioner poverty is on the rise again and scrapping the free licence could push 50,000 pensioners below the poverty line.

It was helpful to agree how collectively we can keep the pressure on Ministers to abandon their ideas to scrap the current much-loved social benefit.

I will continue to relay the comments and concerns raised by Portsmouth Pensioners, other local groups, and all older people in our city, in Parliament. The Government should step in and fund TV licences for the over-75s”.

The summit follows contacting constituents likely to be impacted by changes, with hundreds responding to the MP’s request for views and ideas.

Stephen added:

“The responses that I have had to the letter sent out on this issue have been overwhelming.

The analysis has shown that the most common issue raised by constituents is social isolation and loneliness, with many citing TV as their only company for long periods of time.

It is evident from the feedback that this is a hugely significant topic for people in our city, the emotion in the voices of many I have spoken to is an indicator that we need assurances from the Government quickly. I’ll keep pushing for action”.

Age UK has found that over one million over-75s would have to go without TV or cut back on essentials such as heating or eating if the concession is scrapped.