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| General election 2019: Labour pledges to save free TV licences | General election 2019: Labour pledges to save free TV licences |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Labour has pledged to keep free TV licences for over-75s if it wins power in the 12 December general election. | Labour has pledged to keep free TV licences for over-75s if it wins power in the 12 December general election. |
| The BBC has said from 2020 only those on pension credit will qualify, after it was made responsible for funding them under the charter agreement. | The BBC has said from 2020 only those on pension credit will qualify, after it was made responsible for funding them under the charter agreement. |
| Shadow culture secretary Tom Watson told the Daily Mirror the removal of the benefit was "utterly callous". | |
| It has also been reported that Boris Johnson is looking to save the perk, as part of his election campaign. | It has also been reported that Boris Johnson is looking to save the perk, as part of his election campaign. |
| According to the Sun on Sunday, the prime minister has ordered officials to find a way to ensure no over 75s would need to pay as a "priority". | According to the Sun on Sunday, the prime minister has ordered officials to find a way to ensure no over 75s would need to pay as a "priority". |
| The BBC and the government have come under fierce criticism over the move to scrap free licences to all people aged over 75, which was announced in June. | The BBC and the government have come under fierce criticism over the move to scrap free licences to all people aged over 75, which was announced in June. |
| The decision came after the government made the BBC shoulder the cost of the benefit as part of its funding settlement. | The decision came after the government made the BBC shoulder the cost of the benefit as part of its funding settlement. |
| The corporation said retaining the benefit for all over-75s would have cost £745m - a fifth of the BBC's budget - by 2021-22 and led to "unprecedented closures". | The corporation said retaining the benefit for all over-75s would have cost £745m - a fifth of the BBC's budget - by 2021-22 and led to "unprecedented closures". |
| Mr Watson, who is also Labour's deputy leader, made the party's announcement in the Mirror, saying: "Four in 10 older people say the TV is their main source of company, but from next year 3.7 million older people will lose their free TV licence. | |
| "It's disgraceful. Our message is clear - vote Labour to save free TV licences." | "It's disgraceful. Our message is clear - vote Labour to save free TV licences." |
| Last month, a committee of MPs urged both the BBC and government to find a way to keep the benefit. | Last month, a committee of MPs urged both the BBC and government to find a way to keep the benefit. |