I introduced the free TV licence as part of the November 1999 Budget. When we left office we were well on the way to abolishing pensioner poverty. For their report and that of Frontier Economics is so complacent about what is once again rising pensioner poverty. And they do not tell us the real truth - that pensioner poverty is on the rise again. Abolishing the TV licence fee as the charge rises towards £160 and then £170 will make that poverty worse.

Source: Daily Mirror December 16, 2018 21:56 UTC