ITV GMB: ‘Grubby deal’ Piers Morgan slams BBC ‘betrayal’ of over-75s in licence fee row
Good Morning Britain aired a big debate earlier today about the BBC’s plans to scrap free licence fees for the over-75s.
The corporation announced the news last month, but Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid have continued to fight the fight for the elderly generation.
Today, Piers invited a pensioner onto the show to tell her side of the story, while discussing the 2015 charter signed by the BBC and the government which said over-75s wouldn’t pay to have the corporation.
However, now the plan has been scrapped, Piers wasn’t happy about the “betrayal”.
During a fiery debate on Good Morning Britain, Piers and Susanna welcomed four people on to the show who all had different views.
The host came to blows with Madeline Grant, a columnist for The Telegraph, who believed pensioners should pay.
She insisted the average pensioner is “now better off” than the average working class household, and only those who claim pension credit should be in line for a free licence.
Piers raged: “Here’s the problem. There’s some pensioners who can [afford the licence fee] and the pension credit is an interesting thing, but if you’re a 90-year-old, the most important thing is don’t we have a moral duty to [care]?”
Hitting out at the deal made in 2015, Piers continued: “It’s a stain on both of them [the government and the BBC].
“It’s a grubby deal. It’s the betrayal I hate.”
READ MORE: Piers Morgan says it’s ‘beginning of the end’ for BBC in furious tirade over salary list
Piers added: “People have fought for this country and now we’[re going to let them pay? Do you not have a moral qualm for that?”
Madeline defended her point, adding how not every pensioner is a war veteran, but the host countered by explaining it’s thought to be just under a quarter of 3.7million elderly residents.
The columnist hit back: “I think at a time when future generations are having struggles, I think it’s right [they pay].”
However, this only served to fire up Piers, who insisted: “This is the easiest time to be alive! We have it so easy to other generations.
“We’re living longer, there’s less poverty,” he explained.
At the end of the debate, Piers continued by serving up a solution for BBC Director-General, Tony Hall.
The presenter raged: “I like the BBC and I think they do lots of good stuff. But I think they have made a catastrophic mistake.
“The BBC can have my number now, I’ll come in there, find the money for pensioners. It would take me 10 minutes.”
When asked what he would cut, Piers confidently answered: “BBC Breakfast. How much money are they spending on BBC Breakfast? There’s your money right there. I am available today.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am.
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