Rachel Reeves has announced that winter fuel payments will only be paid to those on Pension Credit.nsion Credit

This forum is of course an echo chamber of a particular demographic.

It is certainly not representative of the country at large.

It is definitely not representative of my friends and family (of any age or income group).

I hadn't realised just how far apart the two groups are until people on here began to realise that they stand to lose money under a Labour government instead of the poor losing money under the Tories. At that point the tone completely changed. People openly boasting about protecting their assets, horrified at the thought of millionaires losing a few pounds and so on in the most unpleasant manner imaginable.

And yes, I know that the withdrawal of the WFA will affect those without money more than those with it, but I find it ironic that it is the very people who supported Tory cuts to benefits who are complaining about this, before we have even heard the budget. It's easy to think it is just Labour-bashing, as it is so dissonant.

Is being representative of the country at large now a good thing? Because it wasnt when Johnson was voted in, or when Brexit happened etc.

Galaxy

Is being representative of the country at large now a good thing? Because it wasnt when Johnson was voted in, or when Brexit happened etc.

Yes but now it’s SuckierStarmer, it’s different. You are not allowed to criticise Labour without being accused of all sorts of opinions you may never have held, even if you didn’t agree with them under the previous government.
Mention the mess the previous Labour government left the NHS in doesn’t count, because it got worse under Conservatives. I’m watching to see how Labour deal with the needs of so many more people than there were before. So far, the pensioners have been hit, but it doesn’t matter because many Jacks in here are boasting that it doesn’t matter to them.

The virtue signalling is quite amusing.

It is definitely not representative of my friends and family (of any age or income group)

What, younger people being resentful of older pensioners?

Certainly younger members of my family are much kinder and more supportive than those portrayed as resentful of older, supposedly 'wealthy' pensioners.

And yes, I know that the withdrawal of the WFA will affect those without money more than those with it, but I find it ironic that it is the very people who supported Tory cuts to benefits who are complaining about this

Which same people? On GN or generally?🤔

We will cope. Already thinking of ways to save money to pay for winter bills. However, there are many who are on their own and already on a tight budget, but don't get pension credits. A lot won't claim benefits for whatever reason. It has taken a long time for me to persuade a friend to claim. They didn't think they would get anything so wouldn't claim.

Doodledog

It is definitely not representative of my friends and family (of any age or income group).

I hadn't realised just how far apart the two groups are until people on here began to realise that they stand to lose money under a Labour government instead of the poor losing money under the Tories. At that point the tone completely changed. People openly boasting about protecting their assets, horrified at the thought of millionaires losing a few pounds and so on in the most unpleasant manner imaginable.

And yes, I know that the withdrawal of the WFA will affect those without money more than those with it, but I find it ironic that it is the very people who supported Tory cuts to benefits who are complaining about this, before we have even heard the budget. It's easy to think it is just Labour-bashing, as it is so dissonant.

Yes

Callistemon213, I don’t know how to post the link. I just went to X, typed in Kier Starmer in the search. Scrolled down a bit and found it, it’s from the house of commons(

WWM2 you thought it important enough to post about before the budget, so why wouldn’t people comment about it before the budget especially if it affects them, or even, if they’ll be all right without it?

Foxyferret

Callistemon213, I don’t know how to post the link. I just went to X, typed in Kier Starmer in the search. Scrolled down a bit and found it, it’s from the house of commons(

Ok, thanks, I'll look.

Mine was earlier.

Galaxy

Is being representative of the country at large now a good thing? Because it wasnt when Johnson was voted in, or when Brexit happened etc.

Yes, I think it matters, because those issues which affect the biggest parts of the population will determine how any government is perceived by the electorate as a whole.

SKY news is reporting that Rachel Reeves has revealed that there will be tax rises in the autumn budget…

Mollygo

WWM2 you thought it important enough to post about before the budget, so why wouldn’t people comment about it before the budget especially if it affects them, or even, *if they’ll be all right without it?*

Sorry? I’m being dim here I’m not sure what you are alluding to?

This forum is of course an echo chamber of a particular demographic. It is certainly not representative of the country at large

WW you can say that again!

Personally, I find this thread, and many current News & Politics threads, utterly depressing and soul destroying.

It’s impossible to conduct a rational debate in an echo chamber.

I hardly contribute any more now as I wouldn’t like to meet some of these people in real life - am happy to leave them, and their views, to each other.

No doubt, I’ll be criticised for saying this, and I suppose they wouldn’t like to meet me IRL either - fair enough🤷‍♀️

If you cant cope with different views that's up to you I suppose. I

Yes, I think it matters, because those issues which affect the biggest parts of the population will determine how any government is perceived by the electorate as a whole

Casdon plus older people are statistically less likely than other age groups to vote Labour, so less likely to have as much influence over Labour’s policy.

Callistemon213

^It is definitely not representative of my friends and family (of any age or income group)^

What, younger people being resentful of older pensioners?

Certainly younger members of my family are much kinder and more supportive than those portrayed as resentful of older, supposedly 'wealthy' pensioners.

Eh?

The GN demographic is not younger people being resentful of older ones.

What I said was that the current GN demographic is not representative of my friends and family. Which it's not. It seems to have changed over the past month or so.

I didn't bring resentment of pensioners into it - the young people I know don't fall for the generalisations about generations, and I didn't say they did.

Over the past week or so I have often been accused of saying things I really didn't - even when I have made a point of spelling out that I am not excusing paedophiles, or justifying the withdrawal of the WFA, or other things I forget. What's going on?

Callistemon213

^And yes, I know that the withdrawal of the WFA will affect those without money more than those with it, but I find it ironic that it is the very people who supported Tory cuts to benefits who are complaining about this^

Which same people? On GN or generally?🤔

On here. As I say, I rarely come across the level of bitterness and bile in ‘real life’ that I’ve seen on here lately.

I rarely come across the level of bitterness and bile in ‘real life’ that I’ve seen on here lately

Same Doodledog

Me too.

Goodness, me neither.

Yes, GN has certainly changed from what it was like years ago.

What’s the matter with some of you people? Can’t you see that many of us are worried by the withdrawal of the WFA, I’m not of the age to get it, but Mum is and now she’s upset as the money really helped and it’s hard enough to get her to put the heating on anyway.We will help her out but as low paid workers often have to juggle our money and bills as it is.There are so many pensioners out there who don’t qualify for benefits and this will hit them hard make no mistake about that.To just take the WFA away with no phased outcome is cruel and I know exactly what people would say had the Tories done this.
Who cares what young or middleaged people think about pensioners, I expect selfishness but if they live long enough they’ll be old themselves one day.

janeainsworth

The U.K. State Pension is about the lowest in Europe, not just in absolute value but also relative to the cost of living.
The WFA is/was part of the package.
Labour could have chosen to tax the energy companies to fund their spending plans but they chose to take from older people, many of whom don’t have private or occupational pensions & for whom the loss of the WFA will be significant.
There’s also an argument for making some benefits (like Child Benefit used to be) universal, to foster a feeling of inclusiveness & being part of society.
Instead, the Government has chosen to increase division between those who contribute to benefits & those who receive them.

Exactly👏🏻👏🏻

I can see that people are worried and I fully understand why. I do not support means-tests and never will.

I’m not talking about this subject in isolation when I say ‘bitterness and bile’. I am talking about the general tone of the site, the nastiness and sniping. The twisting of words and false accusations.

I hoped it would calm down after the election, but it hasn’t.