Wriggling out of promises

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The introduction of free TV licences for the over 75s was a good political gimmick, just like the winter fuel allowance.  Both were classic examples of governments seeking to appeal to a particular section of the population for electoral purposes.  I tend to the view that it would be better to simply increase the state pension, let people manage their own finances, and provide targeted practical assistance to those struggling to budget for irregular expenditure.  It would also be easier and less costly to administer.  However, as the saying goes, we are where we are.

When the BBC agreed to take on the ‘hit’ for licences for the over 75s, I thought at the time that they’d given in rather easily to a proposal which was clearly going to have serious financial consequences for the corporation.  Perhaps, even then, they had already started planning ways of clawing at least some of the money back.  Maybe the government even gave them some sort of a nod and a wink at the time that there would be no objection if the BBC wanted to be a bit ‘creative’ over the issue.  I’d be very surprised indeed if what starts out as a ‘voluntary’ payment remains as such for very long. 

In essence, however, there is a breach of faith here, by the government.  They promised one thing to the elderly by telling them that the free licence wouldn’t be affected by the change, and are sitting back whilst someone else attempts to subvert the promise which they made.  I for one wouldn’t have been unsupportive if they’d honestly and openly abolished this particular freebie and added the extra cash to pensions.  I’m sure that it wouldn’t have been a popular move (and pensioners tend disproportionately to support the Tories), but it would have been an honest and sensible one.  Offloading the promise onto someone else to wriggle out of is neither of those things.  And I wonder how many of those affected will really be fooled.