A War on Pensioners?

At the outset it would be as well before I write about pensioners, to remind you all that I am one of the three septuagenarians in Parliament.

I meet lots of pensioners who find life pretty hard. And many more of my age group vote than those under 25. About 30 percentage points more.

So with a general election on, one might imagine that the interests of those who are most likely to vote would receive the most careful attention from all. But perhaps not.

The Conservatives have three proposals that may tip, over time, more pensioners into dire straits.

They want to cut the link that the state pension currently has with inflation. That protects pensioners to fair degree from rises in the cost of living. The SNP certainly has committed to keep the link and I believe both Labour and Liberal Democrats agree.

In England and Wales, the Conservatives want to stop paying every pensioner a winter fuel allowance.

And finally, former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s proposal to cap the cost of care for our older citizens – in Scotland, personal care is free – a proposal that many pensioners favoured, is to be scrapped by Theresa May if she wins her election.

Scotland has taken a different path and we need to protect our right to do so.

Free personal care - introduced by Labour and Liberal Democrats - protected by the SNP, came from our Scottish Parliament.

Prescription charges have been abolished – we don’t tax the sick.

We have business rates scheme that means a huge number of our small businesses no longer pay anything.

And our students do not need to pay fees for their education.

All choices we have made that have broad cross-party support and come from our making decisions that suit our needs.

People will vote – and I hope you do – based on a number of factors.

But I hope no one will vote for candidates that don’t spell out what their party plans to do in their leaflets and election addresses. Some seem empty of their plans.

This time the policies for social support – something each and every one of us will need at some point in our lives – seem to be more divergent between the parties than ever before.

I suspect you don’t need me to dwell on my view that Victorian values are not for me. Nor are the 1950s – I lived through them and still remember rationing among many things from those days to now forget and leave behind – of any attraction to me.

As we leave the EU we need to consider whether a party we might support has any plans that will protect our industries and protect the rights of our citizens.

But whatever decision you come to. Do try to vote. My preference is well known. Yours is yours alone.