Pensioners begging for the return of free TV licences have been given new hope as a peer bids to change the law and restore the benefit.
Labour's Lord George Foulkes plans to revive a Private Member's Bill which would force the Government to take back responsibility for funding the over-75s' concession.
He first tabled his Digital Economy Act (Amendment) Bill in June 2019, as reported by the Mirror.
But that parliamentary session ended before the legislation went through various stages.
Lord Foulkes, who chairs Westminster's cross-party group on ageing and older people, has entered a ballot which gives backbench peers the chance to spearhead new laws after Parliament's State Opening on May 11.
He said: “It didn’t get through last time so I am re-introducing it and will argue it is even more important now, given the experience of the last two years, the effect of the pandemic, the distress caused to so many older people and the complications of the system introduced by the BBC.
“It is now even more necessary that the Government takes back responsibility for this as it is a social benefit and not a matter for the BBC as the broadcaster.
“I want to give the Government the chance to live up to one of the promises in their election manifesto.”
Older people's groups welcomed the move.
Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said: "Silver Voices is indebted to Lord Foulkes for his dogged and passionate support for the campaign to restore free licences for the over-75s.
“If his Private Member's Bill is picked, it will be another opportunity for Parliament to right the historic wrong of the Government scrapping a welfare benefit by underhand and cynical means.
“Political pressure is building on the Government, from both Houses, to end its impotence and lack of responsibility over this crucial issue for the older generations.”
Shadow Culture Secretary Jo Stevens said: "The Tories can't keep passing the buck.
“We know how vital TV has been keeping us informed and entertained over the last year and for many over-75s – especially those who live alone – it really has been a lifesaver.
“The Government must take responsibility for their broken promise to older voters who rely on this essential service."
The Tories pledged at the 2017 election to maintain over-75s' free licences for the rest of that Parliament, which was due to run for five years.
But the BBC had already been handed responsibility for funding the concession from June 2020, under a deal agreed in 2015.
It said keeping licences free for all over-75s would cost £745million by 2021-22, so introduced means-testing.
Only over-75s who receive Pension Credit are now eligible – meaning an estimated 3.7 million have to pay £157.50 a year.
The cost rises to £159 next month.
Bectu broadcasting union chief Philippa Childs said: “The Private Member's Bill to restore free TV licences for the over-75s is a welcome move that should encourage the Government to take another look at its unfair decision to remove the financial support for free licences and transfer both the cost burden and the responsibility to the BBC.
“Bectu’s position has always been that this responsibility is government’s prerogative, not the BBC’s.”
She added: “For the over-75s, a free TV licence is an essential welfare benefit, and we welcome the move to amend its removal.”
The BBC and Government are locked in an ongoing blame game, with ministers saying the broadcaster “agreed to take on responsibility for the over-75s”, but the corporation insisting: “The decision to remove free TV licences for the over-75s was taken by the Government, not the BBC.”
