RPI to CPI Early Day Motion 1032

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Very little point. Early day motions are about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Indexiation is changing to CPI whether we like it or not.

Sorry but you are missing the point, by highlighting this to MP's and overloading their intrays then it sure will focus their minds. This is an issue that is NOT going away because it will affect our lives forever, we all need to fight this anyway we can.

:mad: The Government is wrong in doing this and they know it.

This issue needs to stay at the top of the political agenda unless you like being robbed, cheated and betrayed?

When the Tory Government of Margaret Thatcher GOT IT WRONG over poll tax, there were riots on the streets and when the same Government removed the link between wages and pensions their was pensioner poverty, DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION.

We need to fight this and we need peaceful positive action.

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

I will be asking my MP not to sign it thereby acting in the best interests of ALL his constitiuents rather than a select few, mainly public servants, who already benefit from excessively generous pension arrangements.

Nb Were you also as angry when Gordon Brown made his unilateral pillaging of private DC schemes to support his public spending aspirations?

This is not a party political issue, this is about Right and Wrong.

It is about ALL constituents because if CPI is used for indexing of pensions Private, Public and State, it will also be used for Wage negociations in the future. CPI is NOT the true UK domestic inflation rate, if it is used as it is then people will get poorer and poorer over time. The Government is well aware that CPI does not cover housing costs and certain taxes and it is also well aware that people do not fully understand the implications of using CPI. 60% of people don't understand the difference between RPI and CPI, and yes I was angry with GB, that was also wrong.

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

How do you define "wrong"? They desperately need to curb the incredible degree of 'living beyond our means' in public spending. Hence a large array of cost cutting measures, of which this is clearly one.

I don't welcome it one iota. Yes they 'know' it's hard. But they are going to do it.

Put on an 'opposition hat'. In the 'house', they would be forced to recommend where else an equivalent amount of money could be saved. Do you have any ideas? Let's try delaying state pension by another 3 years? How about increasing basic rate tax to 25%? Or maybe abolish ISA's and tax rebates on pension contributions? Abolish Child Benefit and Tax credits for everyone? [Please don't try the 'tax the bankers' bonuses - it would produce far too little.]

This change does not only affect Public and State pensions but private pensions as well and the Government does not save a penny there, that has nothing to do with reducing the deficit. I will try and answer your question though.

It's wrong because this change is not just until the deficit is cleared it is perminent, or until another Government changes it at a whim. It's wrong because the CPI measure does not measure the true domestic inflation rate, it was never designed to, it's wrong because it is taking from the least that can afford it, it's wrong because pensioner inflation is higher than RPI anyway, and CPI will make matters much worse and it's wrong because private pensioners had terms and conditions that are not being honored, it's wrong because it sends the wrong message to our young people, why should they save for pensions when Governments can change the terms at will, it's wrong because it adversly affects people who planned for their future and will have their pensions reduced by up to 25% over time and it's wrong because there was no consultation done on this change, it's wrong because the professionals are also saying it is wrong and it's wrong because the Government has not done a full impact analysis. These are just a few reasons.

If CPI were the true UK domestic inflation rate and did give the true pensioner inflation then I don't have an issue, but please don't tell me that it's OK to do the wrong thing because we have a deficit and then carry on doing the wrong thing forever. If the Government needs to raise money, then yes put up income tax and no the pension age increase is also wrong because like CPI that is forever.

I am sorry if you don't fully agree with me on this issue but these changes are not a short term measure, if they were I may be able to live with them. Both are basically for life and it means that long after the deficit is cleared many many poeple will still be paying a high price for these changes. The Government has never said this change is for a short period, there is no guarantee that CPI will ever represent the true uk domestic inflation rate and hence this is why this change is so wrong.