- Conference
- 2022 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 23 June 2022
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference recognises that it’s been nearly 2 years now since the BBC announced its intention to remove the free TV licence provision from the over 75s in 2020 [having been forced by the Conservative government to take over the funding of this social benefit]. Since then, the protests have never stopped! Groups including Age UK, and the Scottish Pensioners Forum [SPF] have built a massive campaign against these proposals, while Silver Voices have led a no pay campaign. Meantime a public petition gained a staggering 634,334 signatures against the BBC plans implementation was delayed, with the BBC citing the pandemic as the reason, however this did not stop them imposing the changes last August 2020.
This is a disastrous action by the BBC. It is believed over 40,000 older people in Scotland, including 11,868 UNISON retired members, many already living below the poverty line, will lose out. The BBC argue those on pension credit will be unaffected, but many do not, and history tells us many entitled to this benefit do not or cannot claim it.
Conference is deeply concerned over this cut, causing added misery to older people, many living alone during this difficult time
Conference therefore calls on the NEC, Labour Link, the National Retired Members Committee, Age UK, and the Scottish Pensioners Forum to campaign jointly with other similar organisations including the TUC, STUC, Welsh TUC, Irish TUC and opposition parties for the following as a matter of urgency;
1. The UK Government must again accept statutory responsibility for the continued provision of free TV licences to all over -75s;
2. The BBC suspend any implementation of these changes during this difficult period due to COVID and the UK Government to repay all those over 75s who paid the fee and any associated penalties caused by them being taken court for non-payment.