Former Lib-Dem Pensions Minister Paul Burstow has followed his party's policy of attacking pensioners benefits by calling for the winter fuel allowance to be restricted to those on Pension Credit. He claims this money could then be used to fund support for social care for the elderly. Who is he kidding? Does he think we are so naive to believe that future governments would not cut and cut whatever level of support he currently offers?
But it also raises a fundamental question. Why should just the elderly be expected to pay for a benefit for other elderly people? If you agree with this then the logical conclusion would be to apply this philosophy to other areas such as education and health. Should only parents pay for schools? Should only the sick pay for the NHS?
Pensioners pay taxes too. They also provide the majority of volunteers in the third sector, provide millionsof hours of unpaid care often to enable their children to go out to work and overall make a net contribution of over £40bn per annum to the economy.
Burstow suggests that Winter Fuel Allowance be restricted to those on pension Credit, thats £7400 per annum. Anyone on over that is a "rich" pensioner in his eyes.
The basic state pension in the UK is one of the worst in Europe and these extra benfits are merely small supplements which still leave millions below the povety line.
Not for nothing is Burstow the "ex" pensions minister
