Scrapping free TV licences 'an assault' on vulnerable people, says Watson
Sajid Javid has been urged to ensure the Government honours its manifesto pledge in this week's spending review by funding free TV licences for the over-75s.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson says failure to do so will let every pensioner know that "a Tory Party promise can’t be trusted".
The concession, which is taken up by 3.7 million people across the country, has been scrapped by the BBC due to costs.
WATCH: Free TV licences are 'a lifeline'
It comes after the broadcaster was handed responsibility for free TV licences by the Government. Chancellor Mr Javid is due to announce his spending review tomorrow.
In a letter to Mr Javid, West Bromwich East MP Mr Watson, said: "Despite making a manifesto promise to maintain the concession, this Government offloaded the responsibility for funding the licences onto the BBC.
"As a result, the concession will be means tested as of next year, and 3.7 million people face losing their free licences, including 6060 households in your own constituency.
"The impact this change will have on older people cannot be underestimated."
Shadow culture secretary Mr Watson added that the country was experiencing "a loneliness epidemic", with television being "a window to the wider world" for people who are housebound or who live on their own.
"Four out of 10 older people say that television is their main form of company, and for many, a bill for £154.50 will mean real financial hardship," he continued.
"Many of our oldest citizens will have to choose between being worse off or being cut off from the world around them.
"This is an assault on some of the most vulnerable people in our society and has caused a widespread public outcry.
"Unless the Government rethinks its position, this will become a dividing line in a General Election; Labour has pledged that we will fund free TV licences for over-75s.
"This spending review is an opportunity for this Government to honour its manifesto commitment to older people by funding free TV licences for over-75s.
"Failure to do so will ensure that every pensioner in Britain will know that a Tory Party promise can’t be trusted."
More than 637,000 people have signed an Age UK petition calling on the Government to take back responsibility for funding the concession.
