Haven’t RTFT, but my tuppenceworth:
I’m a mid-50s born woman so one of those affected by the pension age changes, and no, I didn’t get a letter about the speeding up of the process. But even living overseas, I knew the changes were happening - it was all over the media, it showed when I checked my pension forecast. I genuinely have no idea how others didn’t know. I may not have liked the change, but that’s a different conversation about a different government.
Similarly, I’ve lost my winter fuel allowance. I would have preferred the government did a proper impact assessment, which would have led to a tapered cut off, I think, which would clearly have been better for many. But it’s wrong that those who don’t need it ever got it at all.
Ditto the IHT changes. Most farmers aren’t affected, and I’ve no sympathy for the Clarksons and Dysons who bought land as a tax-avoidance measure.
There are several government policies that I disapprove of - aspects of the Devolution white paper, it’s right-wing rhetoric around immigration, it’s economic philosophy - but there’s never been a government I fully approve of, and, as yet, it’s too early to decide if this one will be effective.
What it does need to sort out is its communication team, who are pure shite, and an effective narrative to be communicated.