Winter fuel allowance.

Mollie65. Bang on. We British are so easily divided.

Absolutely Tegan.

Absent I completely agree with everything you say.

The Tory's since the 80's when the State pensions link with earnings was cut, have managed to demonize the role of the State, the State pension, and the welfare State.

The Tory's demonize these things because the right of the Tory party have an inherent loathing of them.

An unacceptably high number of people, including many elderly people, die every winter as a direct or indirect result of being unable to heat their homes adequately. This is a far more important issue for a twenty-first century, Western government to tackle than all this grandstanding about how pensioners such as Lord Sugar don't need a winter fuel allowance (or bus pass). It's just a distraction tactic which also helps set one generation against another.

Tegan, Yes the British working man got greedy, and council house sell offs were another opportunist policy that put Thatcher back into power, and of course now Cameron is finishing off what Thatcher started over 30 years ago, rolling back the State.

None of which surprises me, Ivanhoe. Seem to recall lots of people buying shares in those days and making quite a killing at the time, even though the things that were being 'bought' actually belonged to all of us .

Tegan, It was Margaret Thatcher who I believe stopped MP's getting pay increases, and replaced increases with expenses.

Tegan.

It was Margaret Thatcher's right wing Tory Government who privatized our utilities in the 80's, and privatization continued under New Labour care of Tony Blaire's Premiership.

And the fact that successive governments seem unable to stop/regulate massive fuel hikes every year which none of us can budget for [if we have the money in the first place, that is].

The Winter Fuel payment is paid out because the State pensions is not enough to live on.

All pensioners should receive the Winter Fuel payment because largely all pensioners have paid into the system through their working lives.

I didn't think of it before I posted but it made me think of how much I give.

I suppose MPs claim expenses for the same reason as all managers and those higher up the ladder. They can.

And since I already give money to chosen charities you could say I am already giving my fuel allowance away. I' m not an accountant and keep all my dosh in the same pot.

aah - the 'well off pensioner' accusation again. guaranteed to drum up 'boomer bashing' amongst the populace. divide and rule

Why do MP's get to claim expenses, they earn quite enough.

I have never been able to understand why MPs are paid expenses when they are paid to do a job of work,everyone who works for them should be employed by the govenment in power and be on a standard payscale,they should fund their living expenses as the "man next door" does when he works away from home,and if they can't afford to do it then don't do the job easy peasy.

Perhaps he could donate some of his expenses - or better yet convince his fellow MPs not to claim expenses over £20,000 for the next year - after all we are all in this together!

Well, as he's only 50 it doesn't really apply....yet.