War veteran hits out at BBC for scrapping free TV licenses for over-75s

99-year-old World War Two veteran Victor Gregg has hit out at the BBC for scrapping free TV licenses for over-75s, just two days after the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Speaking to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Good Morning Britain today, Gregg accused the broadcasting company of “robbing the piggy bank” of the generation that saved the world.

“I’ve always admired the BBC for its supposed integrity,” began Gregg. “But coming out with this...”

“It’s only two days ago that were patting all the old people on the head and calling them heroes... this generation that has saved the world, while with the other hand they’re robbing the piggy bank.”

This comes after a petition, urging the government to take back responsibility for free TV licenses, has gathered more than 260,000 signatures at the time of writing.

Also speaking on GMB, 84-year-old Mauren Sales said that television is ‘her family’ after tragically losing her husband 22 years ago.

“I lost my husband 22 years ago on our wedding anniversary... it couldn’t have been a worse day at all,” she said. “What’s happened to his pension? That’s what I’m asking. All his life he worked.”

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Asked by Morgan how important television is to her life, Sales said: “Well it is my life. It is my family and I plan my day by my [TV listings] magazine every week and I sit and ring off everything I’m going to see and want to see.

“Without that I’ve got nothing,” she added.

Yesterday, Morgan launched a furious rant at the BBC’s decision to scrap free TV licences for over-75s, describing the move as “absolutely disgusting” and claiming television is “the only window into the world” for people over a certain age.

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"They're all over 75, we just paid tribute to 300 of these extraordinary people, saluting their valiant D-Day heroism... And this is their reward?” he said.

“"Within hours of them getting home, they are now going to be charged £154 to watch television in this country.

“£154, absolutely disgusting, it is one of the most snivelling little things I can imagine. For many people it is the only window into the world and this is what we do for them, really BBC?”