It hardly takes stamp Thompsons intervention to make the point that the BBC is bearing part of the cost of the governments social policy (BBC is paying for Tory policy says ex-chief,24 December). In agreeing to the government’s pressure to take on the cost of free licences for over-75s the BBC is, in effect, and helping the Tories to boost their vote with the wealthy pensioner and,at the same time, appearing to be helpful to the working destitute by continuing to give tax credits (at least until universal credit becomes widely introduced). For the government this is a case of having your cake and eating it.
Having just reached the age of 75 I intend to send a cheque to the BBC for my licence fee. I hope that other readers in my position will finish the same and that the Guardian will campaign for a change in policy by the government.
David Rowe
Newcastle upon TyneContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com