By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
I believe in caring for older people and helping them to enjoy their retirement. After all, they have been paying for their pension and care with a lifetime of mandatory contributions from their hard-earned wages. They deserve to be comfortable and enjoy the leisure time they have been looking forward to for so long.
I cannot comprehend how a Labour Government can take the winter fuel allowance away from these people. Many suffer from health conditions that are worsened by the cold weather. The stress of paying fuel bills is not what they deserve, and they may not wish to beg for benefits – even if they were able to complete the on-line forms.
Having worked hard all my life, I looked forward to retirement and never had a problem with paying tax and national insurance.
Now, I am worried about how I will manage when I retire and have no confidence that my pension and care will reflect all the contributions I have paid.
I believe the spiralling cost of the Ukraine war is responsible for much of our country’s debt and falling standards of living. It worries me that my tax contributions are ending up in that bottomless money pit, along with the 647,800 dead Russian soldiers that sadly lay at the bottom of it. Knowing that my tax has helped to pay for their death upsets me and makes me feel a guilt that I don’t deserve. The deaths of over 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers equally saddens me, but at least I do not feel guilt.
Forgive my sentiment, but I am a mother and have no wish to fund this senseless, un-winnable war. I live in hope that President Zelenski will swallow his pride and accept one of Putin’s invitations to talk peace.
Avril Page, Newport