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Why must old suffer?
• WE are concerned to note that the Lib Dems nationally are proposing to axe many of the party’s flagship policies. Reports state that a string of key plans would be downgraded to “aspirations”.
Leader Nick Clegg appears to be proposing to ditch the higher basic state pension and free personal care for the elderly. These are two key concerns for pensioners.
In one of the richest countries in Europe we have the lowest state pension, currently £7,500 for a couple, which is a third of the national average wage and the expenses claimed by many MPs (about £23,000). It is certainly less than the £64,000 a year (not including the financial perks of the trade gained by MPs through their outside interests) enjoyed by those MPs we elect to provide us with a decent life in our old age.
It is rather obscene that if you are single pensioner or on your own the state pension is about £4,800, which, according to recent expenses information, is the food allowance MPs can claim to feed their faces.
This in a society where the most vulnerable members of our community – pensioners are constantly having to decide their priorities, whether to eat or heat their homes.
The various proposals regarding care cause major concerns to those who own their own homes or have been thrifty, in that all their hard work will merely result in another smash-and-grab raid by politicians seeking a way out of a recession which was not created by the pensioners we represent.
The press report states that Mr Clegg appears to be seeking to position himself as the only party leader to take hard decisions to tackle the recession.
We really do hope he does begin to understand that making a hard decision is easy when the hardship that results from it impacts not on the decision-makers but on the most vulnerable members of the community.
It is rather hypocritical, to say the least, when Parliament, bankers and the City institutions are not prepared to make hard or even tough decisions to rein in their own excesses and own conduct. The fat pay cheques, bonuses and expenses still roll on.
We certainly never created the recession and, given that the general estimates suggest this will last five to 10 years, if Lib Dems drop these policies they are condemning the majority of pensioners to poverty for the rest of their lives.
Over the next few months, as the general and council elections get closer, we will certainly be raising questions with all political parties as to what will be in their manifestos which will benefit pensioners.
JOHN WORKER
Secretary, Islington Pensioners Forum
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