By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
With regards to your “Star Letter” (Island Soapbox, Oct 25); the writer, Avril Page, described her “belief in caring for the elderly, the pensioners paying for their pension and care, with a lifetime of mandatory contributions from their hard-earned wages.”
Really? Millions have been “robbed” of their pension by the government (for many years Tory) who reneged and forced folk to work far beyond 60 or 65.
A colleague retired at 60, dead from cancer a month later. Best friend, 64, died during the Covid debacle, from neglect of care at his hospital. Staff run off their feet; he had a brain haemorrhage after falling.
I am 70, my partner 60. By the time she retires, I may well be dead.
Spendthrift Conservatives threw money at each and every pensioner, regardless of their situation. My mother, brother and sister all spent years teaching and retired on good pensions. My mum, then 99, grossed more in retirement than when teaching. We were all given unnecessary ‘allowances’. State-funded residents at the home where I worked were given the allowance – their heating was already paid for! A responsible Government should have ensured appropriate distribution. Tories ‘bought’ the ‘wrinklie’ vote?
Look at Truss and Kwarteng – the rest is history (and economic oblivion).
Your “Star Letter” writer can’t comprehend why Labour removed the allowance. Answer? Because Truss thrashed Britain’s economics and world credibility. There is no money left!
Dick Swanhill, Brading