So - is she a marttyr? Or a wilful geriatric anarchist?

[Caligula]

pensioner gets sent to prison for not paying council tax

Well you'd better not try to cut me up in the queue w/your stick, LOLcod, cuz I'm stronger and I'll just push your a*7e out the road! Queue up like everyone else!

And what's with elderly getting vaccines the rest of the public doesn't b/c they're 'vulnerable' to death. Um, yeah, that sort of goes to follow. How about protecting 'vulnerable' taxpayers and carers and children - future taxpayers?

cost of death mroe than cost of vaccine?

Long-term or short-term, cod? Those nursing home places are scarce these days, better start planning now!

I am really shocked that people are being so vitriolic about an old woman who has spent her whole professional life helping others. She was a social worker FFS, so I doubt very much she 'benefitted from Thatcher's cuts to social services' as people so blithely assert. She worked with families affected by physical disability. I am sure she has no illusions about Thatcherism. She lives alone in a flat, not a five bedroomed house. All this is easy to find out.
She is making a point. Her council tax went up 18% and her pension went up less than 2%. I think we treat old people shamefully. Poverty is endemic amoung the old. Our pension system doesn't work.

do you realise how bitter you all sound (those who berate old people for having 5 bedroom houses)

i dont care who big her hosue is
you cant adopt a pic n mix attitude to taxation

the maths just dont make sense

if your pension goes up by 2% and council tax goes up by 18% how on earth are you supposed to be able to afford it?

enid the will have gone thorugh fine assessment after fine assement taking into accoutn all terin an d outgoings
thats is nothing to do wiht it
In hER case she didnt want to pay

People have protested about taxation before - poll tax, no taxation without representation - I think it's reasonable. Of course she wants to make a point and not just for herself but for others too. By definition martyrs have options - that's what makes them martyrs!

there are other ways ot make her point
tis the drama of it that makes it aprotest

If I had lived in a big house for years (not likely) and brought my children up in it and it held tons of memories, I wouldn't want to sell it and downsize, no matter what it was worth.

Not if you were old, all the upheaveal etc.

Our wages only went up 2% and our council tax has gone up WAY more than that. How is everyone else supposed to afford it, not just pensioners?

Yes, she wanted to make a high profile protest and succeeded. Good for her, I say. It's non-violent, the only person harmed is her. And she has a very good point to make. Council taxes are soaring and this is very difficult for those who are poor. And pensioners are disporportionately poor, and have few options about improving their situation.

i would olive and buy all of life's comforts

Me, too, bundle! Wouldn't want to be all alone in some big house. Move to Spain where the council taxes are lower. Not that I ever have to worry about owning a 5-bedroom house.

bt if htere was some rough oikey bloke in a 5 bedroomed house claiming benefits youd want him out

yes fair enough to make a protest but she shoudlnt expect any sympathy

so age DOES make a difference

Fair point, cod. Yeah, people would probably feel differently if it were some working poor person rather than a pensioner.

anyone remember Mr Treebus? i often drive past his house and feel a bit sad about him living there with his piles of papers and his rats. RIP Mr Treebus

yes ol lizzie norks whatserface

Was he the bloke from Life of Grime?

The fairest system is local income tax. But I still think councils should not be so free to increase taxes like this. 18%? No.

I agree, aloha, many councils do use it as a carte blanche to raise revenue.

no lizzie vbardsley form wife swap