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Maureen, an elderly pensioner, hit out at the BBC's plan to scrap the free TV license for over-75s. The 82-year-old pensioner told Good Morning Britain that her generation has already
had to put up with the "misery" of living after the Second World War. This comes as the BBC announced it was going ahead with a controversial plan to end free TV licences for most
over-75s, after a two-month delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. The cutback means more than three million households will be asked to start paying the £157.50 fee from 1 August.
Maureen told ITV that it was unfair for her generation to have paid their taxes throughout their entire lives and then be punished in their later years. The pensioner reminded viewers that
she had to live on rations alongside the rest of the country following the world war. The 82-year-old voiced concern that her generation would not be able to afford the TV license fee along
with their other bills. She said: "It's a small price to pay for the misery and the conditions this particular group of people had to put up with after the war." JUST IN:
CHINA REPORTS NEW UNKNOWN DISEASE SPREADING ACROSS ASIAN COUNTRY Maureen said that many pensioners had "struggled for years on a miserable pension" and were now being punished.
She went on the say that she also did not want to see the BBC have to rely on advertising money. The BBC said the new scheme is "the fairest decision", but the Government condemned
it as "the wrong decision". BBC Chairman Sir David Clementi said the decision had "not been easy", but insisted the broadcaster was "under severe financial
pressure". Dame Esther urged the BBC to "wait a little longer" before making the changes. Culture minister Matt Warman challenged the corporation in the Commons today, arguing
it has had "a generous licence fee settlement". He added it was "deeply disappointing" to see the change being made, and added: "I would hope that there is yet time
to reconsider." However, age charities and Labour's shadow culture secretary have criticised the Government for deflecting blame of the decision onto the BBC. They charged
ministers with "passing the buck".