Taxpayers' Alliance: Cut Pensioner Benefits 'immediately'

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34439965


Cynical, with a capital C ! Some quotes from this load of smug charmers !!!

"Many of those hit by a cut to the winter fuel allowance might "not be around" at the next election, said Alex Wild of the Taxpayers' Alliance"

"He added: "If you did it now, chances are that in 2020 someone who has had their winter fuel cut might be thinking, 'Oh I can't remember, was it this government or was it the last one? I'm not quite sure."

[Gromit]

Davemano
Which means they are uneconomical and needleesly adding to polution and congestion, and at the tax payer expense.

Deliberately filling the buses with passengers who are not paying (directly) is a foolish transpirt policy. And I keep coming back to the same question, why should full fare paying passengers and taxpayers fund this. It is a relatively recent election bribe made when the economy was in fare better shape, and which we can no longer afford.

[Jackdaw33]

...and another thing, I was always taught that a fit and healthy person should give up his seat to the elderly and infirm. Are you saying you wouldn't? I'm all right Jack? Some would say that your attitude is the same as that of the heartless, uncaring Tories. Are you one of them?

[Gromit]

It is extremely patronising to assume older people on concessionary fares are infirm, invalid or crocked. And you are also assuming the person paying full fare does not have an underlining medical problem themselves.

[Jackdaw33]

You mean underlying? If so they may well be entitled to a disabled pass.

[Davemano]

The buses get their money from the local authority and have to run for those that do use them regularly. I said that it didn't bother me, but it is an essential service for others less fortunate - think of them and not yourself as you are not apparently receiving concessions - YET

[Gromit]

Davemano

Uneconomical bus services should not be subsidised by the taxpayer. The bus operators are private companies making a profit for their directors and shareholders. The taxpayer should not be contributing to that profit.
Local Authorities or Passenger Transpirt Executives, who are funded through the Council Tax should not be paying for a Universal benefit, free travel, which many elderly people do not need.

[Davemano]

We'll all have our own views.

[Jackdaw33]

Given that Gromit's avatar is part of the logo of The Daily Express, I am not surprised at his comments. As a millionaire Tory he has scant regard for the less fortunate than him.

[Ouzel]

So, Gromit, my elderly neighbour who has worked all his life .. paid taxes .. doesn't drive .. lives in a small village with very few amenities and is reliant on his State Pension, doesn't need concessionary travel ??

Shame on you.

[Jackdaw33]

You tell it like it is, Ouzel!

[Mamyalynne]

If there were no concessionary travellers on the buses or trains they would scrap the service and you'd have nothing to travel on Gromit.

[Jackdaw33]

Yes he would, he'd be driving around in his Bentley, sneering at the less fortunate.

[Gromit]

Ouzel,
The elderly coped pretty well before 2006 when Blair introduced this election bribe. That was before the World financial collapse when we could afford such largess. Nine years later when austerity is cutting deep, we can no longer afford a universal benefit that pays irrespective of the elderly persons wealth. This particular bribe has run its course, and the reasons for offering it no longer apply.

[Ouzel]

^^ The point I was making, Gromit, is that not all elderly people are wealthy, despite having worked all their lives.

[Gromit]

Mamyalynne,
Subsidsing unprofitable routes by the taxpayer is complete folly and is at a huge cost on the taxpayer. It you hadn't noticed, a big problem on public transport is that it is over crowded. Letting people on public transport for free or at a low fare, when the teain or bus is already full is not saving any route, it is putting off full fare paying passengers.

[SirOracle]

Gromit....You say that you are self employed therefore (apart from travel to and from your place of business)your travel costs can be claimed from HMRC,by way of your accounts,so in effect this is paid for by the taxpayers and not by yourself.

How would you feel if the Government stopped this perk.?

[Jackdaw33]

Oh, dear, Gromit. You are so wrong on two counts:

1. It was Brown, not Blair who introduced the concept of the nationwide bus pass in 2008.

2. Concessionary travel schemes have been operated for the past 40 years by certain local authorities. Mine had a token fare of 10p, rising to 50p thirty years later, before its abolition in 2008.

[Gromit]

Ouzel,
// The point I was making, Gromit, is that not all elderly people are wealthy, despite having worked all their lives. //

That is unfortunate, but not really the fault of the taxpayer who has to subsidise the bus and train travel. And wealthy pensioners get and take advantage of these perks. T should at least be means tested, if not abolished altogether.

[Gromit]

Jackdaw,
Travel concessions were introduced in 2006 when Blair was Prime Minister.

[Ouzel]

^^ Train travel - think again - there's no railway station here.

Bus services aren't every five minutes either. I take it you don't live in a rural area ?

Just by the way, don't you think that wealthy pensioners would either drive or be able to afford a taxi - so as not to be a burden on the current taxpayer.