Quote - "Cut pensioner benefits now, they won't be around by next election"

Be_Happy

Absolutely speechless!! Has anyone else seen the speech by Alex Wild of the Taxpayers' Alliance at their meeting held at the Conservative Conference. Reported on the BBC news site.

He advises government to cut the additional pensioner benefits (winter fuel, bus passes, etc) now as many pensioners won't be around at the next election to vote against the conservatives and adds that others won't remember which government made the cuts, so voting won't be affected.

Not annoyed at his wish to make cuts - everyone has their own opinion, but his view that pensioners are 'doddery old souls' not long for this world or for losing their minds. Obviously worried by the effect of the 'grey vote'.

Linton

Wouldnt they get even better savings if they cut health care for the elderly - even fewer around at the next election.

moneyistooshorttomention

He falls at the first hurdle saying things like that - as there is quite a sizeable group of pensioners that are actually late middle age (ie rather than elderly) and we are far from doddery and about to pop our clogs (ie because we are under 70).

In my case - I cant possibly be old - as I've not yet reached my revised State Pension Age:rotfl:

All braincells fully intact and functioning and every indication I will still be around come the next Election - and I'm far from the only one.:cool:

p00hsticks

Interesting...

Playing devils advocate, I wonder if many of the inevitable protests at his remarks (I'm not old and doddery, I have decades of life in me yet, I m more active than I ever was etc) might actually make people more likely to agree with his underlying advice, even if not his reasoning.

My OH has just got his bus pass and our household will get Winter fuel Allowance this year, but we're both still not at State Pension age and have a good household income.

missbiggles1

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

He falls at the first hurdle saying things like that - as there is quite a sizeable group of pensioners that are actually late middle age (ie rather than elderly) and we are far from doddery and about to pop our clogs (ie because we are under 70).

In my case - I cant possibly be old - as I've not yet reached my revised State Pension Age:rotfl:

All braincells fully intact and functioning and every indication I will still be around come the next Election - and I'm far from the only one.:cool:

Since when has 60+ become "late middle age"?:rotfl:

lessonlearned

60 is the new 40......:rotfl

moneyistooshorttomention

lessonlearned wrote: »

60 is the new 40......:rotfl

Absolutely:T

Elderly = having reached at least THE State Pension Age (which is basically 66/67/68 - and looks to be heading towards 70). You cant be elderly if you're still regarded (by the Government) as "working age".

Elderly = almost "expecting" ill health as a constant (rather than thinking "Whoops...theres something wrong at the moment and what do I have to do to get back to normal?"

Elderly = in some parts of Britain I've found it seems to mean people expecting extra "respect" for being elderly (I promise not to join them ever in thinking I "deserve" unmerited respect for an outside factor like my age when I get to that agegroup:rotfl::rotfl:).

You know someone is elderly when they are being described as a "little old lady" - when you know they're actually a vindictive determined little battleaxe LOL.

pollypenny

Why not join the long discussion on DT?

Moneyistoo......., why the peculiar location?

Alter_ego

p00hsticks wrote: »

My OH has just got his bus pass and our household will get Winter fuel Allowance this year, but we're both still not at State Pension age and have a good household income.

Interested to hear that, how can my OH get her bus pass before SP age? Forgive me if it's based on something other than age.

Alter_ego

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Since when has 60+ become "late middle age"?:rotfl:

That's easy! Since I passed 60!

Roger1

Typical Taxpayers Alliance nonsense. It's a right wing pressure group saying what's mine is mine and sod everybody else.

If they were halfway serious in supporting the Conservatives, they'd recognise that not only are pensioners more likely to vote than other age groups, they are more likely to vote Conservative. So were their policies to be taken seriously, Conservative support would be damaged.

Cut nose spite face.

They are not to be taken seriously.