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Pensioners march for a fair deal
WITH the worst storm of
the year raging and
winds up to 90mph, it
was probably not the
best time for a city centre
demonstration.
But a dozen undaunted pensioners
marched on regardless and
battled heavy rains in the hope of
whipping up a political storm.
Members of Southampton
Pensioners' Forum were
drenched alongside supporters
from Portsmouth and
Wessex groups as they
braved the elements armed
with waterproofs and walking
sticks.
Yesterday's rally from the
Bargate to the Civic Centre
marked the centenary of the
state pension and took the
plight of Southampton's OAP population
to MPs.
Lynn Day, 67, Southampton said:
"People were taking notice of the
placards. Hopefully people will
see pensioners are suffering and
have struggled to make ends
meet."
The senior citizens trudged
through the downpour and into
the Civic Centre where they
appealed to Hampshire MPs
Sandra Gidley and Alan
Whitehead.
Forum secretary Don Harper, of
Montague Close, Sholing,
Southampton, said: "It is
deplorable that the state pension
is below poverty level. In 1908
when the pension came into being
the level of state pension was set
at five shillings per week which
was 25 per cent of average earnings.
Today, after 100 years of
progress, we have a basic state
pension that is just over 15 per
cent of average earnings."
Romsey MP Sandra Gidley
claimed the money was available
to pensioners if they "jumped
through the right hoops".
She said: "I still have women
coming to me who can't understand
why they have such a low
pension. When the state pension
was first introduced the average
man had less than a year claiming
the pension. We are all living
longer and as a healthy population
need to think about raising
the age of retirement."
Pensioners complained of rising
energy prices and wanted
to see Government trying harder
to stop the spiralling cost of
fuel prices.
Southampton Test MP Alan
Whitehead said: "There is a
case to answer for utility companies.
One of our discussions
at parliament is about social
tariffs and what energy companies
are doing about making
prices affordable for those in fuel
poverty.
"There are substantial differences
between what you pay for a
pre-pay gas and electric metre.
Pre-pay can cost up to £300 more
per year than if you use direct
debit. That is fundamentally
wrong, wrong, wrong."
8:58am Tuesday 11th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: a, west end on 10:06am Tue 11 Mar 08
whitehead blamming others it is his governments tax that is causing the problems the latest increase was 50% to the government it is the Labour government who are to blame
whitehead blamming others it is his governments tax that is causing the problems the latest increase was 50% to the government it is the Labour government who are to blame
Posted by: Cllr Don Thomas, Coxford on 10:08am Tue 11 Mar 08
Some young people would do well to follow the example of the Southampton Pensioners Forum good old fashion demonstrations to get your point over, and not always accept that you just got to take what ever you are given. Fight for your rights.
Some young people would do well to follow the example of the Southampton Pensioners Forum good old fashion demonstrations to get your point over, and not always accept that you just got to take what ever you are given. Fight for your rights.
Posted by: Adrian Smith on 10:21am Tue 11 Mar 08
Whitehead blustered the following:-
"Pre-pay can cost up to £300 more per year than if you use direct debit. That is fundamentally wrong, wrong, wrong."
It is not fundamentally wrong. The figure might be too high and create an additional profit to the utility rather than cover the higher costs but the principle of charging more is correct.
It is there to protect those of us who always pay our bills on time from those who don't want to or can't. I will not subsidise those on pre-pay schemes. If he is so concerned then his Government must pay the utilties the added costs for collecting payment and bad debts. In the budget tomorrow there is something about this issue - no doubt another Socialist fudge.
Whitehead blustered the following:-
"Pre-pay can cost up to £300 more per year than if you use direct debit. That is fundamentally wrong, wrong, wrong."
It is not fundamentally wrong. The figure might be too high and create an additional profit to the utility rather than cover the higher costs but the principle of charging more is correct.
It is there to protect those of us who always pay our bills on time from those who don't want to or can't. I will not subsidise those on pre-pay schemes. If he is so concerned then his Government must pay the utilties the added costs for collecting payment and bad debts. In the budget tomorrow there is something about this issue - no doubt another Socialist fudge.
Posted by: gordon, westminister on 10:43am Tue 11 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Cllr Don Thomas[/bold] wrote:
Some young people would do well to follow the example of the Southampton Pensioners Forum good old fashion demonstrations to get your point over, and not always accept that you just got to take what ever you are given. Fight for your rights.[/quote] and you voted aginst a cut in there tax and ignored them
Cllr Don Thomas wrote:
Some young people would do well to follow the example of the Southampton Pensioners Forum good old fashion demonstrations to get your point over, and not always accept that you just got to take what ever you are given. Fight for your rights.
and you voted aginst a cut in there tax and ignored them
Posted by: Gladstone, Southampton on 11:03am Tue 11 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
Whitehead blustered the following:- "Pre-pay can cost up to £300 more per year than if you use direct debit. That is fundamentally wrong, wrong, wrong." It is not fundamentally wrong. The figure might be too high and create an additional profit to the utility rather than cover the higher costs but the principle of charging more is correct. It is there to protect those of us who always pay our bills on time from those who don't want to or can't. I will not subsidise those on pre-pay schemes. If he is so concerned then his Government must pay the utilties the added costs for collecting payment and bad debts. In the budget tomorrow there is something about this issue - no doubt another Socialist fudge.[/quote] You may have had a point if it could be shown that lower charges for prepay would have to be made up by those who pay by other methods. But, in fact, all it would mean would be that the energy providers would make a slightly less huge profit. The regulators could quite easily ensure this happened.
Still, I am touched by your concern for your fellow man.
Adrian Smith wrote:
Whitehead blustered the following:- "Pre-pay can cost up to £300 more per year than if you use direct debit. That is fundamentally wrong, wrong, wrong." It is not fundamentally wrong. The figure might be too high and create an additional profit to the utility rather than cover the higher costs but the principle of charging more is correct. It is there to protect those of us who always pay our bills on time from those who don't want to or can't. I will not subsidise those on pre-pay schemes. If he is so concerned then his Government must pay the utilties the added costs for collecting payment and bad debts. In the budget tomorrow there is something about this issue - no doubt another Socialist fudge.
You may have had a point if it could be shown that lower charges for prepay would have to be made up by those who pay by other methods. But, in fact, all it would mean would be that the energy providers would make a slightly less huge profit. The regulators could quite easily ensure this happened.
Still, I am touched by your concern for your fellow man.
Posted by: Hard Worker on 11:10pm Tue 11 Mar 08
A fair bloody deal. Why just them? We all need a 'fair' deal!
A fair bloody deal. Why just them? We all need a 'fair' deal!
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