Only Six?

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David Cameron has announced that his party will cover six issues in the run-up to the General Election - the national debt, the economy, the family, the NHS, schools and changes in Westminster.

All well and good, but many of us would also like to hear about Europe, taxation, immigration, pensions, council taxes, fuel bills ...
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Raise The Retirement Age? No Thanks!

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The Equality and Human Rights Commission has said that the over-65s should be allowed to carry on working.

They say that with the state pension age set to rise to 66 in 2024 and 67 a decade later, it feels the retirement law is outdated and that employers should extend flexible working.

For those who wish to carry on working after the age of 65, the proposed changes will certainly be welcome. However, being the cynical sort of chap I am, I do wonder if this isn’t some sort of underhand plot to raise the age at which people must retire so that savings can be made on their pensions.
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The High Cost Of Living

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It’s not only this side of the pond that some old folk are unable to manage on their pensions in these troubled economic times.

Take Michael Jackson’s father, for instance.

It has been disclosed that he is unable to manage on his State social security payments of $1,700 a month. This is a tad over £1,000 a month. What would our pensioners give to receive that?

But this is not enough to keep Mr Jackson going, for in documents submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, he says he needs an additional £20,000 a month to live on. Yes folks, that’s another £12,000 a month! Which is more than most of our pensioners get in a year.

It is said that Michael Jackson used to make payments to his father via his mother but, despite this, Mr Jackson senior was not mentioned in Michael’s will and Mr Jackson senior now seeks an income from Michael’s estate.

A lawyer for the administrators of the pop star's estate, said it was, ‘quite surprising to learn of the request’.

You can understand why!
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That's Rich!

It is claimed this morning that MPs are considering preventing those on higher incomes from the annual Winter Fuel Payment when temperatures get below a certain level. This is a handout that helps a great deal of people, particularly those on small pensions.

Maybe it is a good idea to prevent millionaires and other rich folk from getting this annual payment. But what I find rich (no pun intended) is that it is our MPs that have come up with this idea.

That’s right! MPs! Remember - that mob that get a minimum of £64,000 a year plus up to £140,000 in allowances! Maybe they should set the limit for the allowance at £63,999!