Kirsty Allsopp has berated Michael Rosen.

Kirsty Alsop is entitled to her view on bus passes, as are we all. However, she picked on an individual, without knowing his financial background. Then when he replied, very politely, instead of apologising, she doubled down. I would have thought more of her if she had admitted she was wrong.

Grandmabatty

Kirsty Alsop is entitled to her view on bus passes, as are we all. However, she picked on an individual, without knowing his financial background. Then when he replied, very politely, instead of apologising, she doubled down. I would have thought more of her if she had admitted she was wrong.

Exactly. This nails it for me.

Am not a fan of KA, but neither do I think MR is a national treasure, far from it.
Am guessing that MR talked about a bus journey and using his pass and KA pulled him up on it as he doesn’t need to use it.
My feeling is that if you’re entitled to it then why not use it.
There are many people tho who criticise the WF allowance and other things like free prescriptions, so logically if you feel that way then why not agree with KA?

Grandmabatty

Kirsty Alsop is entitled to her view on bus passes, as are we all. However, she picked on an individual, without knowing his financial background. Then when he replied, very politely, instead of apologising, she doubled down. I would have thought more of her if she had admitted she was wrong.

Yes, she did. She did not know his circumstances, for all she knows he might give away a substantial amount of his earnings to charity.

Michael Rosen is 80, Kirsty Allsopp is 54.
How does she get around London when she is staying in her home there? Does she walk? Take taxis? Or still drive an old polluting 1.6 litre Audi? Oh, perhaps she uses the Tube!

Yes, there's something on Facebook about that 😀

Oreo

Am not a fan of KA, but neither do I think MR is a national treasure, far from it.
Am guessing that MR talked about a bus journey and using his pass and KA pulled him up on it as he doesn’t need to use it.
My feeling is that if you’re entitled to it then why not use it.
There are many people tho who criticise the WF allowance and other things like free prescriptions, so logically if you feel that way then why not agree with KA?

I suppose you could argue they pay it back in higher income tax.

She’s not quite correct about the bankruptcy but she is correct to say that poorer people are paying for his ‘free’ journeys. The same as allowing the National Trust to claim your tax back. The money comes out of the national pot you have paid into.

Ooo ouch witzend
Fat? Bossy? Insults reserved for women
So sad to hear

I think it's Londoners that get bus pass at 60 plus Wales and Scotland. I was very upset when I had to wait another 6 years

It annoys me that people like her and also J K Rowling feel the need to comment on things that really are nothing to do with them. Why do they see themselves as some sort of guru, commenting on how other people live? I was never very keen on her but now I would avoid watching anything with her in. In my opinion if someone has a bus pass they have obviously paid into the system long enough to earn it. It keeps cars off the road and is one of the few perks for pensioners that is still useful.

She’s an idiot.

I am no fan of KA but do not dislike her and enjoy her property programmes. However, I do agree with her and I think that older people who say it is their right to have free bus passes or WFA, even if they can afford to pay are very selfish. The money could help to improve services. I heard on Radio 4 this morning that pensioners are the biggest cost to the treasury. That includes SRP and non contributory benefits like WFP and Attendance Allowance.

I heard on Radio 4 this morning that pensioners are the biggest cost to the treasury. That includes SRP and non contributory benefits like WFP and Attendance Allowance.

So what do you suggest should happen to us?
Should there be a cut-off point?
Your three score years and ten?

"Her late father, Lord Charles Hindlip, a former chairman of Christie's auctioneers and a British peer, left an estate valued at over £6 million upon his death in June 2024. Allsopp and her three siblings are expected to share this wealth, with her portion estimated at around £1.5 millions.
She owns multiple properties, including a six-bedroom cottage in Devon and a second home in West London."
And this is the woman who objects to a disabled pensioner having a Freedom Pass...?!? 🙄😠

SueDoku

"Her late father, Lord Charles Hindlip, a former chairman of Christie's auctioneers and a British peer, left an estate valued at over £6 million upon his death in June 2024. Allsopp and her three siblings are expected to share this wealth, with her portion estimated at around £1.5 millions.
She owns multiple properties, including a six-bedroom cottage in Devon and a second home in West London."
And this is the woman who objects to a disabled pensioner having a Freedom Pass...?!? 🙄😠

She didn't object on the basis of age or disability. I don't know why someone's wealth should preclude them from expressing an opinion.

Kirsty does seem to do a fair bit of berating.
She posted a photo of her in a deserted Tube carriage and wondered why more people weren't using it.
Several people pointed out that it was the 9.20 am going out of London and most people commute in.

Perhaps she should stick to house hunting and candlemaking.

Where do you live LOUISA1523?
Where I live in England, the bus pass can be used on local buses after 9.30 a.m. but not National Express, and not on local trains or ferries either.
I use mine quite often. It's great not having to think about parking. But Kirstie has made me wonder if I should be paying, as I could afford to.

Allira

Grandmabatty

Kirsty Alsop is entitled to her view on bus passes, as are we all. However, she picked on an individual, without knowing his financial background. Then when he replied, very politely, instead of apologising, she doubled down. I would have thought more of her if she had admitted she was wrong.

Yes, she did. She did not know his circumstances, for all she knows he might give away a substantial amount of his earnings to charity.

Michael Rosen is 80, Kirsty Allsopp is 54.
How does she get around London when she is staying in her home there? Does she walk? Take taxis? Or still drive an old polluting 1.6 litre Audi? Oh, perhaps she uses the Tube!

Yes, there's something on Facebook about that 😀

Michael Rosen is 79. Don't think she's had an Audi for years.
There are many untruths on facebook.

OldFrill

Allira

Grandmabatty

Kirsty Alsop is entitled to her view on bus passes, as are we all. However, she picked on an individual, without knowing his financial background. Then when he replied, very politely, instead of apologising, she doubled down. I would have thought more of her if she had admitted she was wrong.

Yes, she did. She did not know his circumstances, for all she knows he might give away a substantial amount of his earnings to charity.

Michael Rosen is 80, Kirsty Allsopp is 54.
How does she get around London when she is staying in her home there? Does she walk? Take taxis? Or still drive an old polluting 1.6 litre Audi? Oh, perhaps she uses the Tube!

Yes, there's something on Facebook about that 😀

Michael Rosen is 79. Don't think she's had an Audi for years.
There are many untruths on facebook.

I saw the 80 and thought - I'm sure I typed 79!
Sorry, Michael.

Not keen on Rosen nor Allsop for that matter.

However, I have no issue with him getting a travel pass. I'm sure he's paid a lot of tax over the years.

There are many untruths on facebook.
I know, I saw some just the other day but she had posted that on X and it has been widely reported.

pot calling kettle comes to mind

nanaK54

In my humble opinion Michael Rosen is a national treasure, Kirsty Allsop not so much

I agree. She is bossy and opinionated.

Aveline

Well. She is smug and bossy.

Hear hear!

grannyro

It annoys me that people like her and also J K Rowling feel the need to comment on things that really are nothing to do with them. Why do they see themselves as some sort of guru, commenting on how other people live? I was never very keen on her but now I would avoid watching anything with her in. In my opinion if someone has a bus pass they have obviously paid into the system long enough to earn it. It keeps cars off the road and is one of the few perks for pensioners that is still useful.

What has J K Rowling done that offends you? Surely not her founding Lumos an international charity for children, or Beira's Place the centre for women who've been subjected to sexual violence that she fully funds from her own money? Should she really not comment on them, she was a victim of domestic violence herself?

Years ago Alan Coren did a fascinating radio show using his Freedom Card to travel around London on buses with various other ‘old cronies’ to show how useful it could be.

I think the pensioners bus pass, usable certainly all over England, I live on mine, is one of the great freedoms of being old. Why on earth should not Michael Rosen, a genuine ‘national treasure’ who probably has done more for Britain in the last ten years than anyone, not own and use his freedom pass? Ludicrous woman, too up herself for words and, as someone up thread said, probably trying to flog something,

What is the feminine form of W⚓️?