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For Newsnight: should we end universal benefits for better off pensioners?

(529 Posts)
GeraldineGransnet (GNHQ) Mon 09-Jul-12 15:59:20

An ally of David Cameron's, Nick Boles, is about to make a speech calling for an end to universal benefits for better-off pensioners - bus passes, winter fuel allowance, free prescriptions - and the money to be spent on childcare.

We may go on Newsnight tonight to talk about this. What do you think? Any examples of how these benefits help or what they mean to people?

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 19:12:10

Neither! We have two single beds and a sofa that converts into a double bed if required. (they call it a suite but it's actually a larger cabin) if youre interested ,
Go to Cunard QE, click on accomadation. It's a princess grill P3 grade but disabled accessable, which means it is a little larger and has a wet room rather than a shower over a bath!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 19:14:36

Thankyou darlings! I do find the swimsuits a little 'constricting' though!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 19:15:56

And as for the thongs!? Ouch!,

johanna Fri 03-Aug-12 19:28:53

jeni
That sofa will come in very handy for when you'll throw a party!......

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 21:32:07

Oh! My darlings! Are you going to join us then? We do have a broomstick accessable balcony!
I'm sure I could (for a price ) get Cunard to supply vodka jelliessmile
But I think the herbal tobacco would not be allowed as they have banned smoking aboard!

johanna Fri 03-Aug-12 21:43:24

I would love to come jeni.
My broomstick is ready, I have one with a Sat Nav.
Surely they would allow smoking on the balcony?

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 21:46:47

No! Not any moregrin

Anagram Fri 03-Aug-12 22:00:30

I'm not coming, then! If you can't smoke in the open air.....[confused}
I demand my Yuman Rites!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:06:07

I think there is a an open air smoking area on one side of the pool deck still? But I'm not sure?

petallus Fri 03-Aug-12 22:17:30

Just got back from a day out. See this interesting thread has moved on a bit though seems to have gone off topic in the last half a dozen posts.

deserving some names indicate sex of poster, others not. Yours doesn't hence he/she.

when er, I knew what point scoring meant. I wondered who you thought was doing it.

Anagram Fri 03-Aug-12 22:24:38

As when referred to scoring points off Gransnetters, I'd have thought she meant someone who wasn't a regular Gransnetter - but of course, I could be wrong!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:30:21

[timid]emoticon (very tiny type) just trying to lighten things a bit?

(creeps very quietly away! Goodnight!)

petallus Fri 03-Aug-12 22:30:57

deserving* I agree with much of what you say about the situation where we seemingly have enough money for illegal wars and aid to other countries but not enough to pay essential benefits to people here.

I don't think anybody who needs bus passes, winter fuel payments etc. should lose them.

However, to get right back to the original question on this thread, some of us have said that,in principle,we would be prepared to forego certain benefits which we do not need if we knew the money saved would be used to help others more needy.

It's not going to happen though, is it?

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:32:29

No way!sad

petallus Fri 03-Aug-12 22:35:59

Oh sorry jeni. I feel bad now. cupcake

I'd better go to bed.

petallus Fri 03-Aug-12 22:36:33

Oh you're still there!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:44:46

Yes! I'm still confused?
I give my fuel payment to charity. Means testing is not economic. Don't have a bus pass as I can't use buses.
What are you sorry about?

Anagram Fri 03-Aug-12 22:47:23

jeni, don't you dare feel bad! deserving seems to be quite happy to go with the flow, as it were...
I wonder why this is the only thread deserving has contributed to?

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:47:25

When I said no way, I meant no way to your statement that it wouldn't happen! I'm agreeing with you!
I'm confused
Please elucidate!

jeni Fri 03-Aug-12 22:49:33

Give up! BAD WEEK!

GOODNIGHT

may come on tomorrow!

Anagram Fri 03-Aug-12 22:56:48

smile jeni

petallus Fri 03-Aug-12 23:50:57

Jeni thought you were saying you were timidly creeping off to bed because I mentioned going off thread.

Wires crossed smile

deserving Sat 04-Aug-12 09:39:21

One thread at a time is enough when juggling attacks, rather than differences of opinion, from several quarters.It's also a mystery you can now speculate upon, at length.(I'm sure someone else must have said something similar).I tell you what surprises me,(no doubt I will be corrected) how can so many tunes be created from only 8 notes, and how is it that few repetitions appear? As a non-musician I am still able to spot similarities.Funny that. I remember (unable to attribute, never mind) reading/hearing? How some Russian discovered penicillin quite a while before Fleming.( not the one of "The Left Hand Rule).That couldn't be possible, could it ? Some frantic re-reading of yesteryear teacher training college notes is required regarding precis (thought that was a "frock shop") bit of plagiarism there, and can't go on I appear to have reached an accepted length.
Welcome whitewave, you don't have to choose a camp. you can be your own person, ( I will incorrectly attribute that to Goebbels) Thats the end of my attributions, print and be dammed from now on. (who said that?) wink

Nonu Sat 04-Aug-12 09:43:16

You will be missed , I have found u quite sparky , however , can"t say I always understood u flag

Anagram Sat 04-Aug-12 11:05:02

I don't think deserving meant that that was her last post, just that she's completed her analysis of and speculation about our behaviour! wink