The BBC correspondent joined Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain today and was probed over the corporation’s decision to cancel the free TV licence fee for over 75s. The 70-year-old clarified not all over-75s would lose their free TV licence however, due to confusion surrounding the requirements to have obtain one, not all of those entitled had claimed it.
Piers began: “A lot of anger as the BBC entered into a deal with the Conservatives and took on free licence fee.”
“The BBC took it on but only until the end of a particular period and then it was up to the BBC to decide what to do,” Andrew clarified.
“I know plenty of well off 75-year-old’s. Should they get a free TV licence?”
Piers hit back: “But there are lots of very poor 75-year-olds.”
“But most of them will still get it,” Andrew explained.
But Piers wasn’t impressed as he told the presenter: “Most of them don’t claim it.”
Andrew continued: “Then there should be a campaign, and perhaps the BBC should be a part of that, to encourage them to do so.
“I mean, the government played a slight of hand here, they basically dumped social policy onto the BBC.”
“I think that’s partly because they’ve been misled into thinking they’re going to lose their free licence,” Andrew replied.
“They’re the ones that won’t lose their free licence, nor should they lose it.”
Also in the interview, Andrew gave his opinion on Brexit developments saying he was “deeply depressed”.
“I’m depressed by the approached of by both Remain and Leave,” he said. “Both involved running down our country.”
He added: “Despite the deep tribal differences, in or out of the EU, this is still a great country.
