Scottish Labour pledges to support Moray's over 75s with TV licence fee
SCOTTISH Labour’s manifesto has committed to helping every person aged 75 and over in Scotland pay their TV licence in a move that would support 7562 people in Moray.
Labour will commit to establishing a ‘staying connected’ fund, offering grants to every household with someone aged 75 and over, up to the current £159 value of the TV licence, to go towards either paying their licence fee or other digital connectivity bills, such as broadband.
The flagship policy was announced by Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar last week.
Jo Kirby, Scottish Labour's Moray candidate for the May 6 election, said: “I’m proud to be standing on a platform to support older people in Moray.
"Moray has one of the largest populations of over 75s in Scotland so this brilliant policy is of particular benefit here.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of TV and broadband to bring people together, even while we have been separated in our homes.
“Rather than going back to the old arguments, Scottish Labour under Anas Sarwar has a vision for a stronger, fairer nation, starting with support for older people and reversing the trend of pensioner poverty.”
Free TV licences for older people were introduced under the last Labour government by then-chancellor Gordon Brown in 1999.
New rules linking the free licence to pension credit recipients only, however, could land around 300,000 over 75s in Scotland with a new bill to pay.
Scottish Labour’s digital connection credit would be available to all households in Scotland with someone who is aged 75 and over and claiming the State Pension, benefiting up to 460,000 older people.
