Number of driving licences held by young people reaches record low

End of the road for boy racers? Lowest number of young drivers behind wheel in UK ever with 350,000 fewer 16-25-year-olds than last year due to ban on lessons and tests during pandemic Just 2.97 million people in Britain aged 16 to 25 hold a full licence, DVLA shows Total is down from 3.32 million … Read more

Labour claims expenses on first class travel, TV licences and HAND GEL, figures reveal

Labour’s Shadow Cabinet charged thousands in expenses during lockdown, billing taxpayers for first-class travel, rent, TV licences – and even hand gel.  Deputy leader Angela Rayner, who boasts of ‘standing up for working people’, claimed £30,952.98 including £1,600 on 23 first-class rail tickets between London and her Manchester constituency since March. Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy … Read more

Motorists accrued 1.5m points on driving licences in first half of 2020

Drivers racked up a staggering volume of penalty points on their licences in the first half of the year despite the country spending the much of the period in the initial coronavirus lockdown, figures have revealed. There were just under 1.5 million endorsement points put on licences in the first six months of 2020, the … Read more

Minister blasts BBC for failing to help pensioners after calls for free TV licences to be extended

‘BBC must do more to support older people’: Minister blasts broadcaster for failing to help pensioners after MP calls for free TV licences to be extended to 2022 Labour MP Gerald Jones said that pensioners were losing ‘companionship’   He called for culture minister John Whittingdale to ‘stick to his manifesto’  Mr Whittingdale said those on … Read more

Online scammers selling fake driving licences for £600

Fraudsters are targeting budding motorists who don’t want to sit – or have failed to pass – their driving tests by offering fake ‘full licences’ and supporting false certificates online for £600 each. Scammers are advertising ‘inside access to driving test centres’ on Instagram, claiming it allows them to book and pass practical driving tests … Read more

DVLA announces a further extension to driving licences to 11 MONTHS

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has today announced it has – for the second time in lockdown – extended the validity of photocard driving licences. Having introduced a seven-month extension in June, it has increased the period to 11 months as it continues to buckle under demand for renewals during the coronavirus pandemic. It … Read more

Tony Hall almost quit as BBC boss after Government offloaded responsibility for free TV licences

Tony Hall almost quit as BBC boss after the Government offloaded responsibility for free TV licences for the over-75s The comments came during his final interview before he leaves next month Described Government attempts to get the BBC to handle the issue as ‘nuclear’ Only over-75s who get pension credit are exempt from the annual … Read more

Ending free TV licences for over-75s has created a ‘bonanza’ for fraudsters

Ending free TV licences for over-75s has created a ‘bonanza’ for fraudsters targeting pensioners, campaigners warn Fraud surged during lockdown as victims are tricked into revealing bank details  Some over-75s received scam letters, emails and texts ordering them to pay up The BBC was warned that fraudsters will see the transition as an opportunity By … Read more

Government warned about anger of voters over BBC’s decision to scrap free TV licences for over-75s

Tory MPs’ backlash as they warn the Government about the ‘palpable’ anger of their voters over the BBC’s decision to scrap free TV licences for over-75s – as figures show over 90 per cent will have the perk taken away The BBC says it’s forced to limit free licences to those on pension credit  It … Read more

Thousands of hard-up pensioners ‘face food and fuel poverty’ as their free TV licences are scrapped 

Thousands of hard-up pensioners face food and fuel poverty as their free TV licences are scrapped from today, campaigners warn More than 3million UK households will be asked to pay the  £157.50 annual fee   500k pensioners could qualify for a free licence but are unaware, study finds They could be forced to choose between having … Read more