It's now being suggested that pensioners should 'work for their pension'

[bananaistheanswer]

here by working in the community, or face losing part of their pension. So, now pensioners are being tarred with the same brush as 'benefit claimants'.

They will set up protest groups of young political activists (similar to many young green activists) and they will carry placards about "intergenerational injustice". They will be invited onto every news programme for years to come and you will be bombarded with deep discussions of the 'intergenerational divide'. No pensioners will be invited on, just as there are never any climate change sceptics invited on either. The only pensioners invited on will be rich folm directors who will agree with teh young activists that they don't need a free bus pass and that that is a sign of 'intergenerational injustice'. Meanwhile old people will be mistreated in care homes and some will die of dehydration on hospital wards, but there will be no news programmes about them.

Correction, there will be only one newspaper that supports the elderly and the pensioners, but of course that newspaper is derided by the intelligentsia and teh great and the good

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2161869/Top-doctors-chilling-claim-The-NHS-kills-130-000-elderly-patients-year.html

I'm actually quite pleased that some twat has suggested this.

Because it takes it too far, and that might make the people who support their other crazyfucker ideas think twice.

The only people who will escape these crazy, vindictive policies will be the lucky people who live in Scotland.

And if Scotland does go independent, there will be queues of people from England applying to become Scottish citizens, because our elderly will be shafted.

I know loads of pensioners who are busier now than they were when working full-time with a family of their own. Mainly due to pressures of looking after grandchildren as well as their own parents who are living well into their late 80s and 90s.

Mind you, I also know a few retired folk - retired finally salary pension school headmasters spring to mind - on final salary pensions swanning off to their second homes in France every other month.

MamaMary - do I detect a hint of envy here.....why shouldn't these final salary pension school headmasters "swan" off to their second homes in France every other month. They (like all public servants) paid into their pension every month on the understanding that they would get a final salary pension.

My partner and I both have public service pensions but not enough to "swan" off to a second home in France when the fancy take us. It does mean that we can have the odd meal out, treat our grandchildren and yes we even managed a weeks holiday in France this year.

Sadly this is what always happens - the politics of envy takes over and then it is "dog bites dog" but probably pedigree dogs!

Yes but Nana - to have public sector pensions means you are a public servants which means you are 1) lazy 2) thick and therefore 3) incompetent. So by definition you don't deserve your pensions. On that basis neither do the retired headmasters, however demanding their jobs ( which to afford a second home in France must have been bloody hard going). We don't mention the thousands of pensioners on decent private sector final salary pensions, because they are hardworking and deserve them. ( unlike you and the headmaster, in case you were in doubt)

The policy of division, hate and envy are sadly alive and well and can be found at no 10 Downing St and somewhere in Sheffield Hallam constituency.

Ah thanks Oliver that raised a smile - won't feel so guilty about having that half bottle of wine tonight.....as for Nick Clegg he and Lib Dem MPs deserve the bloody nose they got in the local elections.

Oh and I forgot to declare the "perks" of my public sector job (average working week 50 hours, paid for 37 and a half) it only happened once which why it stays in my memory. In the summer of 1995 it was particularly hot and each team (this was social services) were given a free bottle of orange squash - honest! We were so grateful to be able to quench our parched throats with this glorious liquid.

Incidentally what do you reckon to Ed Milliband.

I'm warming a little...I think! Time will tell I suppose. What about you?

I think he's too nice, not enough fire in his belly, though he is starting to give Cameron some stick. My partner just commented that Ed M is like the "6th form swat" and I knew what he meant. His speech was ok but it was so obvious it was learned, like the lines in a play. Even when he was trying to insult Cameron recently he had to keep taking a peek at his notes at the despatch box. Guess we all have to learn our trade somewhere and it takes time...........

I thought Ed Balls was going to make mincemeat of Osborne but he has been very quiet, almost like he can't be bothered. People say it was the wrong brother but David M was a big Blairite wasn't he. I think the Labour Party died in May 1994 when John Smith died.

My money would be on Yvette Cooper but she wouldn't have the backing.
There is little to choose between this shower of shit - but for me it's Osborne that gets to me most - I have to mute the TV and look away when he's on, like I had to with George Bush. The other one I hate is Gove. He looks like one of those ventriloquest's dummies - wish he was one!

'There is little to choose between this shower of shit'

Are you referring to Her Majesty's Government or Her Majesty's Opposition?

probably NOT serious suggestion> ALL sorts of ideas are being floaded for the future It fills papers

He isn't a member of either side -

"
The 65-year-old crossbench peer, "

so not someone with an executive role at all!

not a policy maker.

What a twat.

i think the civil servant concerned has a point. whats wrong with someone who retires at 50 working till they are say 65? Most of the rest of the population does this so why shouldn't people like them and other civil servants be any different?

I thought that they're talking about people losing part of their state pension, which you don't get until you're 65, given that this idea came out of a committee investigating demographic changes and their impact on public services.