Today Ed Miliband is set to announce that if Labour get into power they will provide older voters with guaranteed free bus passes and TV licences for the term of the next government.
He also pledged action on pension reform and fuel prices and will restate Labours policy of removing winter fuel allowance from pensioners who have incomes of more than £42,000 per annum. The latest polls show that the majority of over 65s in the UK intend to vote Conservative in the forthcoming election at 48% with 24% saying they intend to vote Labour.
The Conservatives have pledged to keep all benefits for older people including free eye tests. They and Labour also guarantee pension incomes will keep pace with inflation or increase at 2.5% per annum, whichever is the highest.
The Liberal democrats have said they would stop entitlements to the UK’s wealthiest pensioners by removing winter fuel allowance and free TV licences to those pensioners paying tax at 40%.
Will this new proposal make a difference to how you vote? Do you currently get a free bus pass? What are your views on the different parties pledges? What would you like to see pledged?
Mr Milliband is possibly clutching at straws with this proposal.
Could not imagine him running the country, we'd be in a right old mess in double-quick time and no mistake.
this wonderful country of ours is beyond belief Balls and Miliband
have absolutely no credibility at all there past record is proof enough
Just consider that tonight MPs are to enshrine in law that we must spend 0.7% of our Gross Domestic Product on Foreign Aid, that currently equates to 12 billion pounds.
Why are people worrying about Pensioner's benefits, people who have worked and paid Income Tax and National Insurance all their working lives, many started work at 15.
The wealth of our country should be spent on UK people rather than foreigners with their corrupt regimes.
The Bedroom Tax is a travesty of justice and the shambles in the DWP has caused thousands of disabled and needy people much strife.
Ed Miliband is NOT an option......can you imagine him representing our country?
What we need is a total change, away from all the old - boy clubs, with people who are more realistic in power.
UKIP is more like that but still need to grow.
So, in my humble opinion, we will have a Tory/UKIP coalition.
Do I TRUST Miliband -NO.
Do I TRUST ANY pre election garble - NO.
Have we as a NATION improved sine the LAST ELECTION -
YES - YES - YES
Say no more!
I'd like to see somebody in any political party take on the big energy companies and get the price of gas and electricity down to affordable levels for everyone especially the elderly and infirm. My husband had a massive heart attack last October and feels the cold terribly so I going to get a massive bill for gas soon. It irks me to read about the massive profits that these companies make yet none of it seems to be being invested into cheaper fuel options. I know companies need to make profit to stay in business but the amount sometimes seems excessive.
I am semi retired & thank him for releasing my pension options early.
If Labour get in back in they will set the country back 10 years with more debts! Can not trust UKIP they have no proper economic policies.
Lots of pensioners have forgotten on this site it was Labour who introduced the cold winter allowance,also free T V licences for over 75 year old .So vote Tory and they will take it all away ,the rich Tory M P won't mind as they can claim for all their bills on their benefits .
I shall probably vote for our current MP because he's very good. He's 'new' Labour - bring back 'old' Labour, I say. Milliband should be sent to bed with no supper for being an idiot!!
Personal Pension Schemes which have benefited from tax relief on contributions, so they should be taxed
.
Increasing the Allowance would reduce the number of Tax Inspectors and the attendant paperwork saving a considerable sum.
Then if the Allowance was large enough, Bus passes, free prescriptions, free TV Licences could be dropped along with a large section of the government employees who administer these benefits.
Ed needs to think up some new ideas to win us over! ...Are pensions high enough? ...Stop the tax on the new pension reforms. ...Why should we get taxed on 75% of our money if we withdraw it as cash under the new pension reforms?