More than 20 Tory MPs billed the taxpayer for TV Licenses this year - despite scrapping free licenses for thousands of pensioners.
The Conservative Party broke a manifesto pledge to protect the £157.50 lifeline the over-75s.
Instead, Boris Johnson lumped the £745million cost of the benefit onto the BBC.
And since August 2020, only over-75s who receive Pension Credit have been eligible for free licences
Older people’s groups have called for the lifeline to be restored as living standards take a battering.
But some 58 MPs across all parties have claimed for TV Licences this year, according to new figures published by expenses watchdog IPSA.
The watchdog says MPs are allowed to claim back TV Licence fees for their constituency offices, if they use it to “support their parliamentary work”.
Of the 21 Conservatives who claimed Licences on expenses, 13 were MPs in 2016, when free TV licences were last put to a Commons vote - and all of them voted to scrap them.
Dennis Reed, director of campaign group Silver Voices said: "It's rubbing salt into wounds to think that MPs are prepared to charge for TV licences when over 75s had them scrapped a couple of years ago.
"I'd like to know whether the 21 Conservative MPs support our campaign for free tv licences to be restored."
Among them are Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage, who in 2020 admitted the benefit was a “lifeline” for the elderly.
She blamed the BBC for scrapping it, claiming the government had given them a “healthy settlement” in 2015.
Dame Caroline got in touch after this story was published to say the claim was "made by a member of my team in error, and when this was discovered, I fully repaid the amount."
Jeremy Wright, who was Culture Secretary in 2019, when final preparations were being made to hand the cost of the benefit to the BBC the following year, also billed taxpayers for his telly.
In 2019, he wrote about how the BBC was “important for people of all ages, but particularly for older people, who value television as a way to stay connected with the world.”
Also claiming the cost back is Mr Wright’s predecessor, Karen Bradley - whose office had to be chased by licensing authorities in 2017, while she was Culture Secretary.
Ms Bradley’s team said at the time that the office wasn’t dodging the fee - but didn’t have a TV.
She told the Mirror last night: "The TV licence that I claim for is for my constituency office and is to allow my staff there to keep up to date with what is happening in Parliament.
"I pay personally for the TV licences in both my main constituency home and my London flat. The decision on free TV licences was made by the BBC and not the Government."
And Tory MP Guy Opperman, who in 2019 said television “has a role in keeping people company, and this can be especially true for older people”, also put his fee on expenses.
Mike Wood, the MP for Dudley South, said: "You do know that it is for my office rather than for my own TV licence?"
He added: "Although there is no TV in the office, my understanding of the law is that all businesses require a tv licence if anybody ever watches a tv channel on the premises - including streaming online.
"I pay for my own TV licences for my home and for the flat that I stay in in London."
Leigh MP James Grundy said: "The TV license was claimed for my constituency office for the use of my staff, and for legitimate work purposes only, entirely within the rules set out by IPSA."
And a spokesperson for Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who also claims a licence on expenses, said: "The TV licence is for his constituency office, which is a commercial building, used by his constituency staff in the course of their duties.
"The TV licence is not for Mr Barclay’s personal use."
And Heywood MP Chris Clarkson said: "The TV License in question is for my constituency office - I pay the license fees for my home TV from my own funds."
Elmet and Rothwell MP Alec Shelbrooke's spokesperson said the licence allowed his staff "to do their jobs and follow proceedings in the House via BBC Parliament and other news channels."
Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey said: "We had set up a television in the constituency office during the Covid pandemic to allow staff to keep up with events when they were not allowed on the Parliamentary Estate.
"I will be paying the license fee for this year personally and reviewing the need for it at all going forwards.”
Harrow East MP Bob Blackman said: "As you know, a TV licence is required for any premises where any broadcast material is watched. I purchase a TV licence for my constituency office so that my staff can observe the proceedings in parliament and other relevant material.
"This is clearly a business expense and I claim it accordingly. I regret that the BBC has reneged on its commitment to provide free TV licences to those over the age of 75."
