What Will Happen To The Coalition If Clegg Goes?

[youngmafbog]

In his latest 'idea' Clegg wants to take free bus passes and tv licenses from 'wealthy' pensioners.

This can only be what he thinks is a publicity stunt but surely it could backfire. Many pensioners would not want to be means tested and labelled poor, many of that age would consider it a no-no. The amount saved would be a pittance and it would probably cost more for the army of public sector employees (probably ironically on gold plated pensions) to administer.

If it backfires, given the latest poll ratings, surely there is a chance Clegg will have to endure the night of the long knives with the inevitable consequence?

http://news.sky.com/story/1026338/clegg-rich-pensioners-may-lose-benefits

[New Judge]

The trouble is it will not be "rich" pensioners who suffer. Mr Clegg's rhetoric makes much of retired millionaires availing themselves of free bus passes and winter fuel allowances. It is unlikely that many millionaires apply for their free bus pass as I doubt many of them use buses or, indeed, live where there is a worthwhile bus service.

No. The pensioners who will suffer are those who have not spent their lives on benefits and have contributed heftily in tax and NI throughout their working lives. The "benefits" which Mr Clegg would seek to deny them are just a small part of the package they thought they were contributing towards to help fund their retirement. Instead of that they may find that they are denied them whilst those who have sat on their backsides or have peed what money they did have up the wall will receive the lot. And Clegg suggests this should be done "to make it fair". With fairness like that I think I'd rather suffer a bit of unfairness myself.

[jake-the-peg]

He suggested many Conservatives believe everyone out of work is "a scrounger"

Got your number hasn't he NJ

[pdq1]

Its a gimmick. What rich pensioner applies for a bus pass? Lord Sugar felt insulted when he was quoted as using a bus pass. They don't need or want them!

Rather than means testing pensioner benefits why not tax them. This will save taxpayers a small fortune as the system already exists to collect.

[emmie]

as far as i am aware you get a pass once you reach pension age, irrespective of your financial status.

[New Judge]

Yes you do, em, along with the Winter Fuel Allowance. But you have to apply for them as they do not come automatically. It is highly unlikely that millionaires will apply for them.

Mr Clegg suggests that "rich" pensioners should lose these benefits. The trouble is that his definition of "rich" is somewhat different to that of most people. He sees rich people as those not solely dependant on the pittance of a pension doled out to senior citizens. Anybody who might have put some cash by for their dotage, or who has contributed to a private pension will obviously not "need" these benefits. So it is perfectly fair in his mind to withdraw them, even though those people will have made far and away a much greater contribution than those who retain them.