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

I think Malvern (West Worcestershire) has had a Tory MP since records began! 🤔

All the Badenoch flight story does it to highlight the vagaries of flight pricing:

Badenoch had travelled to Mexico for an official visit to discuss the UK’s bid to join the CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc, of which Mexico was a founding member, as well as bilateral trade with the country. Her business class flight there was covered by her department.

But before travelling, she asked the office of DBT permanent secretary, Gareth Davies, whether the department would pick up the bill for a flight to Dallas, where she was holidaying with her family, as the overall cost was lower than a business class return from Mexico.

Her request was refused amid concerns that a taxpayer funded detour would be hard to explain unless it was for official business, even if the flight was cheaper. The DBT said it was normal for permanent secretaries to advise on what was appropriate.

Callistemon213

I think Malvern (West Worcestershire) has had a Tory MP since records began! 🤔

Still is Conservative

Visgir1

We all knew taxes had to rise despite the pre election denial.
The WFP was a bit of a shock , very unfair to so many.

One thing I'm sure will also get cancelled is free Prescriptions when you hit 60.
If you have to wait for your SP until 67, the assumption is your working?
So I reckon that will be her easy target next?

Prescriptions are another area where universal provision would be so much fairer and simpler. There are exclusions for some conditions and not others, for people on benefits, younger and older people and so on. I think more people get them free than pay for them, and it costs a lot to differentiate between those who should pay and those who shouldn't.

Again, why not have an NI card or something that shows entitlement to free prescriptions and make them free? Otherwise, I suppose it does make sense to tie the right to free ones to being over pension age, but I would very much like to see a review of the conditions that lead to getting everything free. Maybe it's fair to get free drugs for complications of the condition (eg all the medical problems that can go along with cancer and its treatments), but it seems wrong that someone with, say, a thyroid condition should exempt from paying for antibiotics or painkillers as well as for their thyroxine. I was in my late 50s when I was diagnosed with Graves (a thyroid disease) and was surprised to get my asthma drugs free because of that, when I'd had to pay for them previously. Asthma is life-threatening. At 60 the charges stopped altogether, which was illogical too, as the retirement age is 66 for my age group.

These things are always so complicated that apart from the moral implications of giving to some and not others, it would be cheaper and simpler to make them universal, or charge everyone £2 or something. Same with bus fares. The recent £2 fares have made a big difference here, as bus fares were very expensive before they came in. Buses are now much fuller, and routes more viable, and passengers are of all ages and apparent income groups. Isn't it better to have 60 people all paying £2 than 6 people paying £8 and many of them having a free travel card for being over 66?

maddyone

We should do what Denmark do and provide accommodation for MPs to stay in when they are in London. We should not be paying for second homes for MPs that they can keep when they leave parliament. No wonder they’re keen on house prices rising, just think of the profit made when they sell the second homes that we paid for.

Yes, I have often said that there should be a hotel/hostel near the HoC where MPs can stay. Something on the lines of the Holiday Inn - not luxurious, but comfortable. Maybe they could all have their own rooms, with those who attend more debates getting the better ones? That way they could leave their things there and not have to drag cases with them.

Would that be easier for security or not? Having them all in the same place might make it a target, but equally it might be easier to protect one building as one each.

Yes Doodledog but now I realise that things have changed, I don’t think it’s necessary so much. It would be good for those MPs who prefer to use a hotel for overnight stays, providing everything necessary was provided. I’m not thinking Travel Lodge here, much more nice Hilton type accommodation with a restaurant provided and security of course, but it won’t happen now that the rules have changed.

You are absolutely right, a lot of pensioners are living on the bread line as it is, this is a massive blow for some, and i fear the rise in hospital admissions will be massive. Heartless labour picking on our elderly.

Totally agree with Sycamore 123 ….. those just over the limit will struggle even more than they do now. Maybe the suggestion needs addressing more forcibly and prioritising by certain agency’s. Certain pension categories do not need the winter allowance, however some certainly do and rely on it now for assistance in meeting that commitment in the depths of winter. Dispose of the £10 Christmas by all means; it matters very little now from when it was first introduced.

GrannyGravy13

Callistemon213

I think Malvern (West Worcestershire) has had a Tory MP since records began! 🤔

Still is Conservative

Yes!
Since records began 😃

That's why I wondered what they thought of Ms Smith choosing Malvern as her title.

I think the best option is to demand a raising in the level where the benefit gets stopped. We need the money raised for other pensioner concerns in health and welfare.

Doodledog

maddyone

We should do what Denmark do and provide accommodation for MPs to stay in when they are in London. We should not be paying for second homes for MPs that they can keep when they leave parliament. No wonder they’re keen on house prices rising, just think of the profit made when they sell the second homes that we paid for.

Yes, I have often said that there should be a hotel/hostel near the HoC where MPs can stay. Something on the lines of the Holiday Inn - not luxurious, but comfortable. Maybe they could all have their own rooms, with those who attend more debates getting the better ones? That way they could leave their things there and not have to drag cases with them.

Would that be easier for security or not? Having them all in the same place might make it a target, but equally it might be easier to protect one building as one each.

I think it would make them a target to be honest.

Wyllow3

I think the best option is to demand a raising in the level where the benefit gets stopped. We need the money raised for other pensioner concerns in health and welfare.

Yes, I agree.

A tapering of the allowance so that a sudden cut-off point would be better but perhaps not efficient cost-wise.

It infuriated me when they replied to some-one ,questioning why they are offering 22% pay rise to doctors and taking the fuel allowance off pensoners, “Pensioners will benefit from the doctors increase in wages ,because pensioners are the ones who use the services of the nhs most.

Imo there needs to be an all out advertising campaign to make sure that everyone entitled to pension credit gets it because so many people don’t. And make it easy for them to apply. I’ll be very disappointed if that doesn’t happen and have mentioned it to my MP. I doubt if the government will back track on it in any way. As for Labour supporters not criticising our party we’re renowned for criticising them because we’re such a broad church. But I’m going to wait till we see what’s in the budget. We all knew we would have to pull together to get the country back on track.

Oreo

Doodledog there may be a few posters as you describe but the vast majority here are shocked that a Labour government are doing this.I think and hope that this government will put some really good policies in place but this one, WFA cut is a very bad move.

Of course the WFA cut is a bad move. Unfair to those who need/counted on it.

Better, imo, would be raising the current tax thresholds, adding a 50% rate - and ring fencing the money raised for worthwhile benefits.

Norah

Oreo

Doodledog there may be a few posters as you describe but the vast majority here are shocked that a Labour government are doing this.I think and hope that this government will put some really good policies in place but this one, WFA cut is a very bad move.

Of course the WFA cut is a bad move. Unfair to those who need/counted on it.

Better, imo, would be raising the current tax thresholds, adding a 50% rate - and ring fencing the money raised for worthwhile benefits.

I would be very happy with that.

Doodledog

Norah

Oreo

Doodledog there may be a few posters as you describe but the vast majority here are shocked that a Labour government are doing this.I think and hope that this government will put some really good policies in place but this one, WFA cut is a very bad move.

Of course the WFA cut is a bad move. Unfair to those who need/counted on it.

Better, imo, would be raising the current tax thresholds, adding a 50% rate - and ring fencing the money raised for worthwhile benefits.

I would be very happy with that.

I wonder why those in HMTreasury aren't able to find ways to tax, pay bills, pay for all needs - we all do that personally, why can't they?

Gznm

It infuriated me when they replied to some-one ,questioning why they are offering 22% pay rise to doctors and taking the fuel allowance off pensoners, “Pensioners will benefit from the doctors increase in wages ,because pensioners are the ones who use the services of the nhs most.

Yes, increases in hypothermia, and malnutrition. Much harder for the elderly to get over. Again they have paid into the NHS all their lives, many from its conception as many in that era started work at 15, myself included. . Yet Labour are making them pay even more. Shame on them.

Callistemon213

^So what should they do - where should they get the money from to fill the black holes?^

Where's MaizieD?

In a hospital bed, having had a hip replacement op this morning 😆

But you know very well what I'd say about that 'black hole', don't you...

Get well soon, Maisie. I hope the op went well.

Hello MaizieD👋 wondered where you were😃Get well soon.
You’ll be dancing around in no time.

Thanks, folks. I'm really looking forward to the dancing 😂

MaizieD

Callistemon213

So what should they do - where should they get the money from to fill the black holes?

Where's MaizieD?

In a hospital bed, having had a hip replacement op this morning 😆

But you know very well what I'd say about that 'black hole', don't you...

There is a Labour supporter who will criticise labour policies, as we all should if we feel the need.

Blind faith is not something most labour supporters have.

MaizieD

Callistemon213

So what should they do - where should they get the money from to fill the black holes?

Where's MaizieD?

In a hospital bed, having had a hip replacement op this morning 😆

But you know very well what I'd say about that 'black hole', don't you...

Mend well

Get well quickly Maizie