Valued members of society ?

grow the reason I suggested levelling down was because I’m sick of selfish pensioners whingeing and whingeing about their precious triple lock and not giving a damn about others and the dreadful cutting/ freezing of other benefits. Taste of their own medicine. The reality is that the dreadful treatment of other benefits will continue and pensioners will probably get their double lock - but who knows? Could be an interesting battle between Johnson and his heir apparent. Sunak may bring in temporary equal treatment ( downwards) and goodness knows the Treasury is are going to have to make savings somewhere- there’s all the furlough scams to fund

suziewoozie

It’s absolutely right that the triple lock becomes the double lock at least for 2-3 years. The increase in earnings aspect of it simply has to be suspended. Personally, I’d get rid of it all together and give pensions the same increase as all other benefits and have a much enhanced oendion credit system but as tat won’t happen, I’m absolutely behind the suggestion for the increase in earnings link to go - anyone who isn’t is just being ridiculous.

There are a lot of ridiculous people around.

effectively (gggrrr at typo)

suziewoozie Personally, I'd give all other benefits the same uprating that pensions have had (not the other way round). Most working age benefits have affectively been frozen, if not cut, for years.

It's all about votes. If the Conservatives upset their elderly voters, they'll lose votes - unless cunning Cummings has something else up his sleeve.

oendion = pension

It’s absolutely right that the triple lock becomes the double lock at least for 2-3 years. The increase in earnings aspect of it simply has to be suspended. Personally, I’d get rid of it all together and give pensions the same increase as all other benefits and have a much enhanced oendion credit system but as tat won’t happen, I’m absolutely behind the suggestion for the increase in earnings link to go - anyone who isn’t is just being ridiculous.

Where's the tongue in cheek emoticon?

growstuff

As for the 25p for 80 year olds - sorry, it should be abolished completely. It's an anachronism. Maybe it will be when pensions are "reformed" (reduced), as it's looking highly likely the triple lock guarantee will be abolished.

No! 25p is 25p.

Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.

Eh? I don't understand. What does Brexit have to do with this thread?

In any case nearly half of voters actually voted to remain, don't you think that their views should at least be represented? Even those who voted to leave didn't all want no deal at all with the EU and to become a vassal of the US.

I think it's almost certain that the triple lock will go.

Just as I'm within a year of receiving my state pension! :-(

I hadn’t realised that 80 brings extra dosh?a friend of ours has her 80th next month, she will be so excited, haha.
Time it was cancelled isn’t it, just about fifty years on 25p is ridiculous, time for the £10 Christmas bonus to go as well.
The state pension has been triple locked for quite a while now
Although, it may not be for much longer.

Well a Brexit government is hardly going to have fervent remainers in senior positions! Equally a remain government like D.C or T.M was unlikely to have brexiteers in pole position, ones that were were replaced. They are now back in position again reflecting the governments changed policy!

As for the 25p for 80 year olds - sorry, it should be abolished completely. It's an anachronism. Maybe it will be when pensions are "reformed" (reduced), as it's looking highly likely the triple lock guarantee will be abolished.

And how come the current government has so many ministers who have previously been sacked?

Dido Harding was the first name which came to my mind too, as did the names of the people associated with the Spectator, Spiked, Cummings, etc.

Another two names are Zac Goldsmith and Nicky Morgan.

However, there are thousands of others. Do some research into your local council. I was horrified to find out how many outsourced contracts have been awarded to cronies/relatives of councillors and senior council staff. They really do have snouts eating from the same trough.

George Osborne is another - I’m sure there’s examples across the political spectrum but these two are quite relevant at the moment especially DH

I think cronyism exists throughout society especially at the higher levels -particularly the revolving door. The same names pop up heading or having directorships across the private and public sector. People pass apparently effortlessly between parliament, boardrooms across the board. Often leaving one organisation because of abject failure only to pop up with a plum role elsewhere . If you want a recent example, read the CV of Dido Harding.

Oooo, I will Callistemon----ever the forward thinking person.

the House of so called Lords, must have the meanest and greediest bunch in the UK.

How dare they accept £325 to NOT turn up at the moment.

How did anyone justify this?
can we do anything to take the money away?
Some of these people used to be "ordinary" people......how do they live with themselves? when it was hereditary I figured they had been brought up to be entitled rather like Harry, and think they deserve everything for nothing back.

Isn't it time the H of L was put back under scrutiny and there are far too many of them.

Good points suzie.

The cronyism annoys me too growstuff. It’s seems to be prevalent throughout the public sector. The annoying thing is that we, the general public, can’t really do anything about it.

maddy I think there are some good arguments for a second chamber and it would be interesting to have a discussion on that. I think how you then decide on its members would flow at least partly from that. I think there are lots of models - elected ( most common) appointed , a mixture of both. I do think the H of L gets s bad press though - there are some excellent cross bench working peers who are very knowledgable on specific areas that get neglected in the H of C or get mired in party politics.

Agree 100% with both your points maddyone.

My only issue would be how to replace the HoLs. The country does need a second chamber, but how would it be appointed? We've already seen cronyism on a massive scale and that's what happens in too many public appointments.

If the rationale for the extra on the pension after age 80 and the Christmas bonus still exists then they should be updated to reflect their real value and continue to be paid. If the rationale no longer exists they should be abolished. We can easily afford to do the former; the only limit to government spending is if it contributes to inflation.

Updating payments to reflect their real value isn't going to cause roaring inflation (or any at all, really)

In some ways these two issues require separate threads. The 25 pence per week and the ten pound Christmas bonus are indeed an anachronism. They could be abolished for all the use they are, but that would probably cause an outrage, or they could be incorporated into everyone’s pension, and I’ve no idea why that couldn’t quite easily be achieved.
The HofLs is a separate issue. I have long thought that it should be abolished and I still think that. It seems to me that it serves little useful purpose, although others may think differently. It’s expensive, it’s unfair, it’s a reward for cronies to keep them in the style to which they have become accustomed. I’ve no time for it and would abolish it tomorrow. Of course, others may think differently. I’m happy to be educated about how it’s essential.