Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner met life-long Cambridge resident, Christopher Jones (79), his wife Noreen and friends who are up in arms that their free TV licences are being scrapped.

Over 4000 Cambridge pensioners are set to be hit by plans to make certain over 75s pay for their TV licenses after the Government transferred responsibility for funding the free TV licences onto the BBC.

For Mr Jones who has dementia, a severe heart problem and mobility problems, the TV is his main focus day to day.

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has called on the Government to urgently give the BBC additional funds for all pensioners who have blue badges or are veterans.

Daniel Zeichner MP said: “In an ideal world the Government would stump up the cash to allow the BBC to continue to provide free TV licences for all old folk as the last Labour Government introduced.

But now I’m calling on the government to at least do the decent thing by two groups of elderly people: those with blue badges and those who served in our armed forces.

“There is still time for a U turn away from this mean spirited move that’s causing heartache for housebound and isolated nans, granddads and elderly parents who rely on their TV for company.”