triple lock

[vic 1]

Hi looks like we maybe saying good bye to this as Mrs may will not
give a reply as to whether this will continue

also looking to freeze all pensions for all expats in all country's
cost to much they say

but we will keep giving foreign aid to north Korea 4m this year 3m to India ect
when will it end
Vic

[trevnhil]

Vic, I would be interested to a link to this information you have published..
"looking to freeze all pensions for all expats in all country's
cost to much they say"

Trev..

[PaphosAL]

Yes- these are bi-lateral agreements going way back before pre- EU days. They were cast in stone back in our Commonwealth days, which is where they need to remain!!!

[Poppy]

We were watching PM question time today and unless I missed it there was no mention of freezing ExPat pensions. The PM would not commit to guaranteeing the triple lock but did say pensions would increase yearly. She virtually dismissed the WASPI claim as brought up by the SNP and I really cannot see the the ladies are going to get anywhere wirh their claims.

[Cogs123]

I also watched PM Question time & Labour fully backed both the Triple Lock & the Waspi Ladies, it was the Prime Minister who evaded answering the questions put to her on either subject.

[Poppy]

Yes Labour can make all these promises because they know they will not win the election! Maintain the triple lock,help for WASPI ladies, pay increases for nurses, free school meals,more money to schools but they did not really say how they woukd pay for all this other than increasing taxes for the rich - dream on!!

[smudger]

There was a brief but incomplete analysis yesterday of labour's promises and the costs therein. They have apparently promised large numbers of things they will fund - including pay increases for hospital staff and the NHS - all from increasing corporate tax - and the analysis proved that there was no way they could actually achieve that. Let alone the effect it would have on businesses in the U.K.
Awaiting the manifestos where the magic tricks should be revealed.

[PeteandSylvi]

Given that the majority of businesses in the UK are small businesses, Labour is promising to penalise the very voters they are trying to buy.

Pete

[vic 1]

seems to be a stand down this morning as the daily mail says
they will honour the triple lock as they cannot take the political risk
will wait to see what the manifesto says due next week
Vic

[PhotoLady]

Teresa May appeared quite close to losing her composure yesterday on PMs Question Time as she was asked multiple times about pensions, including the triple lock but all she did was repeat her usual parroted phrases and refused to answer the actual question.

Be afraid, be very afraid.... I feel changes are afoot

[Rita Sherry]

It would appear some people were watching a different PM's Questions than myself. The Prime Minister did not at any time say the Government intended to freeze ex pat pensions. As for losing her composure I did not notice that either. Yes she was pressed regarding the triple lock but she answered when saying "there will be an increase for pensioners". It was the last day of the Parliamentary sitting why on earth should she give answers to questions which will form part of the Conservative manifesto in order that the other parties can go away and adjust or otherwise theirs.

In my view the Government is working on their policies and what can or cannot be afforded. There are a lot of critics of the triple lock promise from the previous administration and some people on here have in the past been very critical regarding the recipients forgetting that in all probability those who receive same have it included in their incomes and thus taxed on it. Every benefit paid, in whatever form, has to be paid for and some of the suggestions by opposition parties regarding how this should be done do not, I repeat do not, stack up.

As Mr Micawber said "annual income 20 shillings annual expenditure 19.6d bliss, annual income 20 shillings annual expenditure 20.6d misery".

Please stop scare mongering with stories which have no resemblance to reality.

Rita

[Dominic]

The triple lock cannot go on forever. It is a physical impossibility, with an aging population.

[Royal]

The triple lock cannot go on forever. It is a physical impossibility, with an aging population.

Agreed. Physically impossible and morally indefensible.

[Cogs123]

I agree Dominic, the OFNS ( Office for National Statistics ), have stated that in the financial year 2014/15, the UK Government
Spent £258 Billion on welfare which made up 35% of all Government spending.

Pensions :- £108 Billion 42%
Family Benefits, Income Support & Tax Credits. £44 Billion. 17%
Incapacity, Disability & Injury. £41 Billion. 16%
Personal Social Services & other Benefits. £34 Billion. 13%
Housing Benefits. £27 Billion. 10%
Unemployment Benefits. £3 Billion. 1%

As you can see, pensions are the largest drain by far on the welfare budget, & as the older population continues to rise, it is definitely unsustainable.

[Rita Sherry]

Gentlemen

The whole welfare bill is unsustainable and has been for years but each and every time there have been efforts to reduce it there have been howls of protest. I do however agree with you - my only caveat would be please do not continue to pick on the elderly (I am one of them but would willingly forego triple locking for myself to assist those whose sole income is the State Pension). That having been said I would start to feel a draught if any increase were to be totally abolished. Our country has a shocking record frankly in the manner it treats the elderly - we do have our uses. However as I say the whole Welfare system just like the NHS requires, in my opinion, totally reforming by a cross party committee or whatever charged with finding a solution fair to all rather than a point scoring exercise by individual political parties.

Rita

[vic 1]

have tacked this on to here rather than start a new post
anybody watch the tonight program on itv today

if not try and catch if you can Interesting or what?
raise's more questions than answers
Vic

[Dominic]

There's already a thread about that program.

[PhotoLady]

Great to see that even the Conservative MPs are now signing up to the #WASPIpledge

[Dominic]

Either that or our Chinese neighbour is on for a promise, or something.