Better-off Pensioners 'encouraged' to give fuel allowance to charity

BertieUK

Well-off pensioners who do not need their winter fuel allowance should donate the money to charity, a Conservative minister has said....

Our family, like millions of other families in Britain give willingly to many Charity's throughout the year, not just at Christmas as referred to by this minister who I think is a little out of touch with reality, because it is a British Custom to give to charity. Many of these donations to charity will be from the well off as they are no different to anyone else.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20851321

chewmylegoff

"The government is going to stick to its commitments," he said. "But if people take their own decisions that they want to use (the money) for good, of course, as minister for charity, I would support, congratulate and encourage them."

Minister for charities suggests it would be nice if people with excess income donated it to charity.

#eviltories

mystic_trev

The comments are a bit 'rich' bearing in mind many MP's from all sides appear to still be 'fiddling' their expenses.:mad:

moneyinmypocket

It's just lip service - same with them all really

BertieUK

chewmylegoff wrote: »

Minister for charities suggests it would be nice if people with excess income donated it to charity.

#eviltories

I think that is probably how they got rich in the first place, and I know a few people like this who would not part with very much, but I did notice that they were never really happy with their wealth as they were so feared of losing it. I think that money and wealth cannot buy happiness.

MacMickster

Better off pensioners could stick their winter fuel allowance on the lottery. Half would go to good causes so they could feel good about their actions AND they would at least have a small chance of being able to buy their own care home for the future.

System

I used mine to buy a chain saw.

Give a man a winter fuel allowance and it buys heat for a few weeks. Give him a chainsaw and it gives him heat for life.

GeorgeHowell

It's a bit like suggesting that companies who pay little UK tax might like to do so voluntarily. When confronted with their own incompetence, inertia, and political spinelessness they come with this sort of B/S.

kabayiri

I like the new government line on wealth distribution. The pleading line.

Almost as good as :

"Dear Starbucks,
Please consider giving just £20m a year,
Just £20m a year will keep 4 ministers in London digs for a year.
Thank You"

MacMickster

kabayiri wrote: »

I like the new government line on wealth distribution. The pleading line.

Almost as good as :

"Dear Starbucks,
Please consider giving just £20m a year,
Just £20m a year will keep 4 ministers in London digs for a year.
Thank You"

I can almost picture turf wars for the best pitches between sellers of The Big Issue and politicians (from all parties) trying to sell their new magazine, The Bigger Expense Claim.

kabayiri

Most charities know how much additional revenue can be gleaned by advertising; ie public appeals for generosity.

Unless there is a collective drive behind it (eg Live Aid), it's usually pretty low. Sub 10%.

Let's be generous and assume that 10% of these so called wealthy pensioners donate the full £300. It still isn't very much in the greater scheme of things.

Which leaves us with the only reasonable conclusion - it's all a PR scheme from a government devoid of any concrete proposals.