Pensioners hit hardest by Osborne's Budget

[Gromit]

// The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the two groups will lose much more of their income than childless couples over the next four years because of the Coalition’s tax and benefit changes.
According to the institute, the country’s leading economic think tank, this is because the increase in VAT and other taxes combined with changes to the benefit system will disproportionately affect pensioners and families. //

http://www.telegraph....rs-twice-as-hard.html

Any OAPs regretting their vote yet?

[LoftyLottie]

Gromit, I voted Lib Dem and I am really upset now. I feel utterly let down. I would have voted labour if only I had known. I was initially going to vote Labour this time anyway, and changed my mind at the last minute. People like me are responsible. I have myself to blame for what is a very right wing government now.

[LoftyLottie]

And it's not just because I'm an OAP that I regret it. I regretted it almost immediately and then thought well 'let's see' before getting too upset. Well I have seen the light now!!

[youngmafbog]

Except of course you have forgotten to mention it was a very selective report.

You are alos ignoring the fact Labour (noo or red) would have had to cut eventually possibly even harder if we had lost the AAA credit rating.

Also, of course, we still dont know the full extent of the cuts.

LL, dont forget that the Lib Dems also got a big shock when they opened the books and found the cupboard bare. This Government is not right wing at all, why do you say that ?

[jake-the-peg]

That's right YMB

But they wouldn't have been slashing at the poorest in society and they'd be doing it when the recovery was stronger.

You forgot to put in the bit about "Gordon's spending spree"

You know the spending spree where he splashed our money out on wastrels like Northern Rock and RBS and stopped the recession turning into a major depression.

Never mind I'm sure George-nice-but-dim will fix that

[BertiWooster]

The coalition government have stated that they do not accept the findings of the IFS .
How odd - when they were in opposition , they made great play on quoting the institiutes findings , to attack the labour Government

On the today programme this morning the Chief Secretary to the treasury ( i think that's who he was ) kept evading the question as to whether or not , they had undertaken an assesment to ascertain what the impact of the budget cuts would have on the most vunerable people - i.e the low paid and others - a requirement which they are duty bound to undertake .

Despite being asked the question several times over , he would not say yes or no - it was obvious they had not fulfilled their duty - it was truly embarrising .

What an embarrising position, the liberal democrats have found themselves in - when these policies are going against everything they profess to beleive in .

[LoftyLottie]

Berti, your first paragraph is similar to what I was going to post back to YMF. But you have put it better than I can. Of course, it's the government who say that the IMF's findings are selective!

Over the last few months I have got more and more angry and this news today doesn't come as any surprise.

Are this Government right wing? Yes they are in my opinion. I feel let down by the Liberal Party, as do many of their number.

[anotheoldgit]

So after just over 100 days, the scare mongers are out in force.

You can tell Labour voters anything and they will believe it, as a pensioner I am no worse off now than I was under those terrible years of New Labour.

Admittedly we will all suffer for the disastrous situation that New Labour got us into, but if we are to get out of this mess then we must all be prepared to take a share of hardship.

So in the meantime and before it happens, just ignore all the scaremongering that we get from the media.

When, or, if it happens then that is the time to worry, but it can't be any worse than the 13 years we have just gone through, and don't forget the maximum time we will have to suffer this time is only 5 years.

[jake-the-peg]

Oh there it goes the "New Labour got us into this mess" line

I knew we wouldn't have to wait for it long

Nothing to do with greedy bankers lending money they didn't have eh AOG?

Nah thought not

[LoftyLottie]

"You can tell Labour voters anything and they will believe it"

Please qualify that statement! Are you inferring that all people who support labour are thick and lacking in any sort of understanding. I resent that.

[sandyRoe]

Didn't the Labour Government bring the Winter Fuel Allowance up to a decent level? There's also free bus passes and Pension Credit. All the work of the Labour Government.
This new lot would have us live on crusts and hope a harsh winter will see us off.

[craft1948]

Can I have some pension credits..................oh no because I was stupid and saved for my retirement.

[Bobbisox]

me too crafty...duhhhh!!!
I voted lib-dem and like Lottie I feel I hve been sold out!

[alexanderd]

I am a pensioner and I have not noticed any difference but nowhere have I seen that winter fuel payments, pension credit or bus passes will all be scrapped just taken away from those who dont need them after all why should someone earning 50, 60 70 thousand pounds a year get winter fuel payments. All these things should have been meanstested from the start

[sandyRoe]

When benefits are means tested a large number of people who are eligible don't apply.
The Torys and Labour have very different attitudes to benefits for the poorest people in our society. Remember the £10 Christmas Bonus? It was introduced by Jim Callaghans government. Throughout all the years of the Thatcher gove it stayed at the same level.

[alexanderd]

Just because you are eligible does not mean you need it. I qualify, but I dont need a bus pass, dont really need the winter fuel payment either. Dont get pension credit because I have two pensions so I dont need it