A furious Tory MP condemned the BBC for putting people like Gary Lineker ahead of elderly British pensioners. Speaking to Defund The BBC, Conservative MP Lee Anderson called the decision to make over-75s pay for their TV license fee an “absolute scandal”. Mr Anderson savaged the BBC’s decision-making, after the broadcaster cut back on benefits for the elderly while still handing out millions to its “star presenters”.
Defund the BBC campaign chairman Calvin Robinson said: “The BBC went back on their word on the deal with the Government for the free license fee for over-75s.
“Back in 2015, the BBC chairman Tony Hall said it was a strong deal for the BBC, and now they are trying to pin the blame on the Government.”
Mr Anderson, who is one of the so-called Red Wall Tory MPs, said: “It is an absolute scandal.
“I have written to the director-general on this very matter.”
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The Ashfield MP continued: “When you think, you have people like Gary Lineker earning nearly two million quid, and another radio presenter just had a million pound a year pay rise.
“While some poor pensioner in my patch gets a birthday present for their 76th – an order to start for your TV license again.
“Meanwhile, these idiots present football on a Saturday night, who are all multi-millionaires anyway – they wouldn’t get a job in the normal world.”
Mr Robinson added: “This huge salary for its so-called stars doesn’t sit right with the elderly, does it?”
This comes amid a crunch showdown between a leading pensioner campaigner and BBC boss Tim Davie over the decision to make over-75’s free licences means-tested.
Silver Voices director Dennis Reed will demand that pensioners who refuse to pay for TV licences should be spared court action during the coronavirus pandemic,
He will also urge the BBC to make payment of the £157.50 fee voluntary for over-75s for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Mr Reed said: “We will make clear to Mr Davie that we need to move away from enforcement and threats in favour of cooperation and persuasion.”
