AS a General Election will take place in the very near future, it may be timely to remind political parties and voters generally of the plight of the old age pensioner.
To my knowledge, no party is promising to restore the "earnings link" component to the pension, although "New" Labour, when in opposition, stated that they would do this when returned to power. Indeed, our present Chancellor was very much in favour of this at the time.
To remind readers - if the Thatcher government had not removed the link in 1980, the basic pension would now be £101.15 (April, 2001 figure).
This very modest sum could, as I have previously proved, be easily afforded without turning the rich into paupers.
I am a delegate to the National Pensioners' Convention, which is all very well - but what is really needed, I feel is to form a local pensioners pressure group. Nothing succeeds like people pressure - lots of it!
Anyone interested in forming a local pensioners group affiliated to the West Midlands Region of the NPC should contact me on 01905 831415.
A S C EVANS,
Callow End,
Worcester.
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