TV actor Miriam Margolyes has accused Boris Johnson of a “dereliction of duty” over the “cruel” and “heartless” end of the free TV licence for over-75s.
Her comments come just 75 days before the universal entitlement is due to be scrapped and replaced with a means-tested benefit.
Margolyes, 78, said many pensioners will be faced with the possibility of having their “friend” - the TV - taken from them.
And she hit out at the Prime Minister for not responding to a petition of 630,000 signatures, which was delivered to Number 10 Downing Street seven months ago.
The Call the Midwife star, who is an Age UK ambassador, said she understood that, with the coronavirus crisis, the Tory leader “has other things on his mind at the moment”.
However, she insisted there had been time enough to respond, claiming Johnson is “just not coming to the table”.
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And – accusing Johnson of “a dereliction of duty” – the Harry Potter actress said the public health situation proved why access to the media should be safeguarded, stating: “With coronavirus, the radio has been fantastic at getting information to people. I think it’s essential that we protect the BBC. I’m shocked it has to be protected.”
Margolyes spoke out as the Government threatened to end the licence fee altogether, and turn the BBC into a subscription service.
Her comments came after BBC chief Lord Hall admitted it is “conceivable” that 90-year-olds could end up in court for non-payment of the licence fee.
In a video for Age UK, Margolyes said pensioners are “going to have to choose between paying for their licence and having that bit of extra money to buy food, pay for heating and live their lives”. She said:
“It’s an intolerable and difficult choice.
“The Government and BBC are at loggerheads at the moment and the piggy in the middle are the pensioners. The people over 75 are being punished.
“It’s disgraceful and I think it is the Government’s responsibility to care for its old people.”
Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams called on the BBC and the Government to come to an agreement over a matter she said has “serious consequences for many older people”.
She added: “We sincerely hope that the Government and the BBC listen and respond.”
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