Message to Gordon from the wrinklies

ManAtHome

Could cut back on th lies and arrogance for a start:
Prudence - nope, in my book that is about putting money aside for the rainy day, not hoping that the rainy day never happens.
Foster a climate of saving - nope, virtually all your savings will be taxed in some way or attract ludicrous rates of interest if government-sponsored. And as already mentioned, save just a bit and you lose out on "the means test" (thought I'd heard the last of that one many many years ago).
Taking the poorest out of poverty - nope, the poorest are being hit the hardest by "essentials" inflation in the continued attempt to keep interest rates low for the spivs.

Oh, and while he's there, could check out why mp's food allowance (to mention but one) is higher than the basic state pension and how a gang of people on £250k+ can "feel the pain" of even average earners.

krisskross

Funny isn't it how things work out? My neighbour gets pension credit which apparently entitles her to free glasses and dental as well. She then gets her rent and council tax paid. I guess in all in cash and kind she is getting approx £1000 a month. I get the same £1000 a month from pensions, pay income tax AND full council tax. Something wrong somewhere I think.

I think means testing is so demeaning, like going back to the 1950s. Just give us all a halfway decent pension so we can decide how we spend it. We are too old to be bribed with handouts.

cajef

EdInvestor wrote: »

What exactly should he do to recover his popularity as far as we wrinklies are concerned?

In one word :-

Resign!!

EdInvestor

ManAtHome wrote: »

Foster a climate of saving - nope, virtually all your savings will be taxed in some way or attract ludicrous rates of interest if government-sponsored. And as already mentioned, save just a bit and you lose out on "the means test" .

To be fair, the age allowance for people over 65 is already over 9k and will be over 10k in a year or so, which means you can earn more than double the basic state pension and pay no tax. That's a total of 20k tax- free earnings for a couple, considerably above the pension credit level.The benefits problem arises for the people in the 6-10k band.

Does anyone have any views about what should be done about funding long term care?

krisskross

Long term care is a biggie isn't it? At the moment the only ones to pay are the thrifty or property owners. I honestly hope I don't live long enough for it to be an issue.

red_bertie

I want him to do all that other posters have said about savings, pensions, tax and benefits.

I'd like to see him introduce a curb on fat-cat pensions, salaries, their obscene bonus's and undeserved golden handshakes.

I want some restriction placed on all the 'extras' that MPs loot from the taxpayer.

But most of all I'd like to see him jobless, destitute and in permanent poverty.

:mad: Yes I feel very vengeful.....

Biggles

I'm not too fussed about the abolition of the 10% rate, as the poorest elements of society have benefited the most under Labour even without that.

I'm more concerned that someone who wanted to introduce it as a 'longterm objective' now suddenly, after nine years of it, thinks it's a bad idea.

It makes me wonder if he knows his own mind.

chesky369

My daughter - a single mother bringing up two kids on her own - is PA to a millionaire (several times over). Because she is fortunate enough to earn a pretty good salary (and is very good at her job) she comes into the 40% tax bracket. However, her boss pays 10% on HIS income.

I'm not saying that his 10% is less than her 40% - of course it's not - but it does seem pretty daft that the difference in percentage terms is SO great.

margaretclare

krisskross wrote: »

Funny isn't it how things work out? My neighbour gets pension credit which apparently entitles her to free glasses and dental as well. She then gets her rent and council tax paid. I guess in all in cash and kind she is getting approx £1000 a month. I get the same £1000 a month from pensions, pay income tax AND full council tax. Something wrong somewhere I think.

Exactly. In fact I referred to this kind of thing in my post on page 1. This type of example is always cropping up.

I think means testing is so demeaning, like going back to the 1950s. Just give us all a halfway decent pension so we can decide how we spend it. We are too old to be bribed with handouts.

I've been saying this for a long time. Winter fuel payments, bus passes and TV licences for the over-75s are 'handouts' in my opinion. It was quite clever in a way - to remove these handouts and replace them with a 'halfway decent pension' would be a very difficult thing for any future politician to do, no matter of what party, colour or complexion that politician might be, so GB has effectively written the agenda for all future governments when they attempt to provide for an ageing population.

Francophile

red_bertie wrote: »

I want him to do all that other posters have said about savings, pensions, tax and benefits.

I'd like to see him introduce a curb on fat-cat pensions, salaries, their obscene bonus's and undeserved golden handshakes.

I want some restriction placed on all the 'extras' that MPs loot from the taxpayer.

But most of all I'd like to see him jobless, destitute and in permanent poverty.

:mad: Yes I feel very vengeful.....

I am sooo with you on this one!!! (sorry I know we're not supposed to rant)