Welsh pensioners to rally in Cardiff on TV licence changes
Published on 08 July 2019 11:25 AM
Pensioners from across Wales are to demonstrate in Cardiff on Tuesday 2 July against the recent BBC announcement that they will means test free TV licences from the over-75s.
Organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) Wales and Unite the Union, the rally will start outside the steps of the Senedd at 11am before heading to the new BBC headquarters in the city's Central Square for 12pm.
NPC Wales chair Phyllis Preece warned: "If these changes go ahead we will see thousands of pensioners in Wales forced to give up their TV and for many this is their only form of companionship.
"The BBC says it will provide free TV licences for everyone claiming pension credit but Age Cymru estimates that around 32,000 pensioners in Wales who are eligible for this benefit, don't actually claim it. While many pensioners miss out on pension credit because they may have a small amount of savings put away for a rainy day.
"However, what we really want is for the Government in Westminster to take back responsibility from the BBC for funding free TV licences for everyone over 75.
"So we will be calling on the Welsh Government to put pressure on the UK Government to change its mind. We also want to show the BBC how strongly we feel about this issue."
Ends.
News Released issued by:
Michael Phillips
On behalf of NPC Wales