For whatever reason this question - are politicians entitled to a free TV licence? - seems to have cropped up quite a lot recently.
It's recent popularity is undoubtedly related to the BBC's recent announcement that it is going to tighten the eligibility criteria of the "free" over 75 TV licence, to the detriment of around 3 million of the nation's older folk. The deeply unpopular announcement coincided with the release of the BBC's Annual Report for 2018/19 which revealed, yet again, the nauseating amount paid to many so-called BBC celebrities and managers.
Enjoyable a pastime as politician bashing is (second only to goon fishing actually), it is an unfortunate fact that they are not automatically entitled to a TV licence by virtue of their political office. That said many politicians do claim for their TV licence on expenses, so the public ultimately ends up footing the bill anyway.
Of course any politician aged 75 or older is currently entitled to an over 75 TV licence, but from 1st June 2020 that entitlement will be removed for all but those over 75s claiming pension credit.
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2 comments:
The Parliamentary Estate is exempt from the TV Licensing regime:
https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-and-eir/commons-foi-disclosures/estates-information/tv-licenses/
Since 2012, they've stopped buying TV licences. I assume they are using Crown Immmunity.
My local MP, Nadime Sahwi, fully supports the BBC threatograms, the harassment and the intimidation of the vulnerable/elderly. I have this in writing from him; saved for a an appropriate time.
So I wonder what he gets from the BBC?
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