Ministers have dropped plans to give benefit claimants free television licences following a furious backlash, The i Paper can reveal. The proposal had been considered as part of sweeping BBC reforms proposed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
A government review of the BBC’s Royal Charter had suggested looking at countries like Germany, which offer free TV licences or discounts to those on social benefits. However, UK ministers will now focus on “further targeted interventions, such as new concessions or payment schedules” to help struggling households that have not kept up with licence fee payments, which cost £174.50 a year.
Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston criticised the plan, saying: “It would be outrageous if people claiming benefits were given free TV licences while hard-working people footed the bill.” John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: “It’s absurd to squeeze middle-class taxpayers harder while floating new licence fee exemptions for benefit claimants.”
Under the German system, those with disabilities, receiving unemployment benefit, or asylum seekers are exempt from the €18.36 (£16) per month TV tax. A similar exemption for the six million working-age benefit claimants in the UK prompted the angry response that led to the policy being dropped.
