UK NEWS

DOUBLE OUR PENSIONS TO GET OUR VOTE

The National Pensioners' Convention want more for the retired

Tuesday October 20,2009

By Daily Express Reporter

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(3)

THE basic state pension should be almost doubled to at least £165 a week for a single person, Britain’s biggest pensioners’ organisation will say tomorrow.

The National Pensioners’ Convention is launching a grey manifesto calling on all parties to do more for retired people.

It wants free long-term and social care for the frail elderly paid for out of taxation. And it says local services should be paid for by central government not individual councils.

MORE MPS FACE EXPENSES PROBE, WARNS POLICE CHIEF

Another demand is for the Winter Fuel Allowance – currently £250 per household or £400 for the over-80s – to be raised to £500.

The convention will also call for free public transport on buses, trams and local rail services nationwide.

NPC general secretary Dot Gibson said: “Pensioners are fed up with MPs of all parties being more interested in their own expenses than the needs of their older constituents.

“One in four older people still live in poverty, over 20,000 die every year of cold-related illnesses and the cost and quality of care that pensioners receive is a national scandal.

“Whilst it’s true that pensioners don’t vote on block, they are more likely than any other section of society to turn out to the polling booth. That’s why all the political parties need to realise that if they want our votes, they must start addressing our concerns.”

WHY HAVE THEY FORGOTTEN EXPAT VOTES?

20.10.09, 1:38pm

Why are these people also not campaigning for the millions of Expats who have paid taxes all their working live and then get a FROZEN pension for living away from NHS care/England? Now that would win them thousands of votes too!

• Posted by: DavetheDude • Report Comment

£2.50PW FLAT INCREASE IS WHAT YOU'LL GET, END OF.

20.10.09, 10:42am

Unfortunately the average pensioner is very docile and thankful for the few crumbs they are thrown, only those with the loudest voices get listened to .
So I wouldn't hold your breath for any decent increase in the pension.
Pension supplements will always be means tested GUARANTEED, then politicians can bleat on about how they are helping the poorest, i.e. those who have never saved or paid anything in to the system.
If you have paid taxes all your life and been responsible, and expect any consideration from the feather bedded politicians dream on, it's never going to happen.

• Posted by: David16 • Report Comment

PENSIONS!

20.10.09, 9:54am

When Tony Bliar came to power he promised to give Pensioners a decent amount of money to live on and to ablolish 'means testing'!
It would appear that this only applies to MP's pensions!

• Posted by: RichardMac • Report Comment