It's Insulting The Way Pensioners Are Being Grovelled Over.

No, I wouldn’t do that, because I know you’ve already done so, or you wouldn’t have said what you did. All I’m asking is for you to share the work you’ve already done, which isn’t unreasonable,

Perhaps you would care to research and post a link to the results?

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m sure you can find the figures without asking me, and please consider the extraordinary events of the last few years - but huge sums spent on education which were borrowed is surely not something to brag about?

I can, but I’d like everybody to see what they are, and how what you say backs up your claim?

I’m sure you can find the figures without asking me, and please consider the extraordinary events of the last few years - but huge sums spent on education which were borrowed is surely not something to brag about?

Pray tell us Germanshepherdsmum, and how much the Tories have borrowed too. Thanks.

Do you remember how much Labour borrowed?

I’ve been a Head teacher under Labour and the Tories. They are not the same. Labour started Sure Start, Reading Recovery, Numbers count and so much more. I had a capital budget of £20,000 to enable me to look after the buildings, grounds and infrastructure. Under the Tories I received £3,000. The budget reduced year on year, and by the time I retired we had cut to the bone. There is a big difference between the parties and I have lived it. How many Tories send their children to state schools or struggle with Special Needs Funding.

Sparklefizz

I think it should be law that everyone eligible has to vote so that at least a true picture of the country’s wishes is arrived at.
I believe this is the law in Australia?? Perhaps someone in Aus can correct me?

But if forced to vote, people could hand in a blank vote or one that had ben wrongly filled in or disfaced, so that it would have to be discounted.

I doubt a true picture of the population's wishes could be arrived at, or would be taken seriously.

The fact that an increasing number of adults don't bother to vote these days apparently does not worry politicians. So why do you feel they would be interested even if we could give them a true picture of what we wanted?

maddyone

Cossy I was in hospital with Covid in January 2021. I was looked after in an exemplary way. I was given nine different medications and I was made well and I am eternally grateful for my life.

With regard to Care Homes, many managed to care for their residents without losing any, or many, to Covid, but it entailed very careful management. My mother was in a care home after the worst of Covid was thankfully over, but still precautions were taken whilst she was there. They had outbreaks of Covid while she was there, but no deaths, thanks to good management.

Do you call discharging patients with Covid to care homes looking after the residents? I don't. Far too many died unnecessarily as a result. I understand they needed the beds, but so did the people who were discharged.

You are one of the few who remembers these payments with gratitude, and I thank you for mentioning them. You are not a naive simpleton. Most seem to have very short memories and conveniently forget the help received when criticising the current government and the economy. The latest announcement to limit pensioners’ tax liability is criticised here as an insult. However, remember which party has made it. Not Labour.

I must be in a tiny, tiny minority, and I realise many if you will rant and rave against my viewpoint, but I have to say, as a pensioner over 80 years old, I have never experienced state pension increases as high as the ones given for the last two years, nor do I ever remember any government giving me a one off cost of living payment of £600! Was I the only one to get these payments, or am I just the only one that remembers them with gratitude? I admit I was slightly miffed when I realised my increase in my state pension was almost swallowed up by the increased amount of income tax I paid on my private pension, but am pleased to see measures are now in place to correct that. Do I feel patronised or bought? No, I just feel grateful for being treated fairly, even though I have no doubt the majority of you will now consider me to be a niaive simpleton, which I am not, btw!

If you don’t want to vote at least bother to turn up and put a cross through the paper. You can’t comment on politics if you don’t bother to vote. Make it a legal requirement and the people that refuse to vote fined then use that money for the NHS
Be glad you get a pension people like my mother and husband paid into all their lives until dying before getting it., my mother started work at 14 my husband at 15. I am positive stress at work caused them both to die early. I worked all my life so at least I get one.

So what would policy would get your vote? I'd vote for the party that made it illegal not to provide twice as many ladies toilets in buildings and at events!

Politicians make fabulous promises during every election campaign. And that’s what their promises are- fables! They try bribery, scaremongering, the lot, to appeal to voters. None of them appeal to me at all; I’ve seen too many election campaigns, politicians and governments come and go to have any faith left in any of them. This country will continue on its downhill path to mediocrity whatever happens.

Robin20 It would certainly be helpful if the threshold were raised to £20k And along with that adding a rate of 50-60% above £200k.

If Labour are elected or any party actually after the Tories thay have an almost insurmountable task to make things better. So many years of downgrading services, transport, roads, the NHS etc etc. I only hope that whoever is given the job is also given the time to improve things before they are voted out again.

I’m quite capable of weighing up any ‘offer’ to pensioners against the effects of other measures on my (and my friends’) adult children and our grandchildren. I’m not going to vote for benefits for my generation at the expense of younger people!

Having to wait an extra six years for my state pension however I don’t exactly feel “grovelled” over!

Germanshepherdsmum

It’s not a scam!

I was looked after perfectly well during covid, weren’t you?

Raising the personal allowance for everyone would be hugely expensive, and of course it would benefit very high earners too. Then it would be that thing politicians love to accuse one another of, an unfunded promise.

If they really want to help the low paid without vast cost it's simple. Increase the basic allowance then lower the levels that the higher tax rates kick in slightly so that higher paid individuals don't benefit but are effectively still with frozen allowances. That would slightly reduce the difference between rich and poor.

I read on page one of this thread about it being an election gambit.
Everything we currently hear is an election gambit by one party or another.

Blatant bribery for pensioners to vote Tory. I guess he has to counter the balance as he's most likely lost the votes of every 18 year old with his national service/volunteer idea.
I don't believe any of the manifesto pledges until they are honoured.

We live in a two-party system. ­Everything else is a protest vote.

I read somewhere a couple of years ago that over 90% of laws and legislation never changes from Government to Government, be it Conservative to Labour or Labour too Labour etc.

Some seem to think that when Labour come in all their dreams will be answered, just as several years later some will think the same about the Conservatives.

It's the same all over, our problems ae not unique. Other countries have other issues that are equally annoying to them.

Government is about managing money. Takeaway from the people, give it back to the people in another way, whilst trying to make enough to pay the interest on the historical debt the Government already has. Plus a bit put aside for a rainy day.

mae13

If the Tories really intended to raise the Income Tax threshhold it could have been done, but not tacked onto the manifesto as if they've just remembered us - how doo-lally do they imagine we are? And Labour will likely dream up some reason - should they win - why they can't improve things for us "just yet."

Well, if I were an MP on 94,00 per annum (plus a few part-time directorships to keep my finances ticking over) I probably wouldn't feel it was necessary to get off my arse on behalf of others too quickly(pardon the language.)

I've lived long enough to see several elections come and go.......nothing but disillusionment EVERY time.

If politicians could just keep one promise they might not have the reputation they've acquired.

I totally agree with you. I find it insulting.

Any idea of the cost or where the money would come from?

M0nica

Even with a 'none of the above' choice, if I was made to vote I would refuse to. If we live in a democracy that includes the right to play no part in it at all.

But with rights come responsibilities. If people want to keep a democracy, they need to vote for it.

Many people in the world are not so lucky.