Policy Exchange attacks pensions with "Help to Save"

bigadaj

jamesd wrote: »

To accommodate you, earlier I changed from C to c just to be nice. What do you make of the proposal? I assume you objecting to it being seen as Conservative or Conservative party means that you don't think much of it?

Were all open to a bit of banter and argument, but you two bandying about the c word seems a bit strong!

jamesd

It seemed pretty pointless to me. (shrug)

System

jamesd wrote: »

That's why I included the names of some involved, to illustrate that it's Conservative, not solely conservative. It's not an official Conservative Party think tank, though.

I daresay you could produce a list of Conservative MPs who buy food at Marks & Spencer. That might make it a conservative store, but hardly Conservative?

jamesd

I suggest that you read Comment: Exciting times at the Tories' feeder school and then comment on the proposed policy.

Linton

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

I daresay you could produce a list of Conservative MPs who buy food at Marks & Spencer. That might make it a conservative store, but hardly Conservative?

I dont think many MPs would put shopping at M&S as the achiement of which they are most proud.

Thrugelmir

Southend1 wrote: »

We already have compulsory auto enrolled pensions for all. They are paid for through NI contributions. This idea is simply another step towards scrapping the state pension and allowing Dave's buddies to get their grubby mitts on our retirement funds. If the state pension is inadequate then that's what needs to be addressed. The answer is not forcing everyone to gamble with their retirement through compulsory private pensions.

If the orignal state pension were paid today as it was at inception. It would amount to the grand sum of £29 per week.

Thrugelmir

jamesd wrote: »

It seemed pretty pointless to me. (shrug)

If you want a political debate let's start with the Clown's raid on pension schemes in 1997. In particular personal ones.

Personally I prefer to focus on the basic fact that the UK no longer saves. We are addicted to debt and inflation to remove the burden there of. Something we can thank the post war Labour Government for. An inflation tax on savers.

Southend1

Thrugelmir wrote: »

If the orignal state pension were paid today as it was at inception. It would amount to the grand sum of £29 per week.

That may be, but it doesn't mean that's what it should be today! I'd say full basic state pension of £12-£14k would be right, which allows everyone with enough qualifying years a dignified retirement with the option to provide privately for additional pension above the basic standard of living. Yes, taxes would have to rise or other areas of spending cut, or a combination of both.

Thrugelmir

Southend1 wrote: »

I'd say full basic state pension of £12-£14k would be right, which allows everyone with enough qualifying years a dignified retirement

Unaffordable though. Post war the Western world has been living above it's income. Global changes simply cannot be ignored. People have to accept responsibility for their own future. Wasn't so many years ago that people did.

Southend1

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Unaffordable though. Post war the Western world has been living above it's income. Global changes simply cannot be ignored. People have to accept responsibility for their own future. Wasn't so many years ago that people did.

I very much doubt it's unaffordable. It's simply a matter of resource allocation.