Britain's pensioners are the poorest in Europe.

[ivanahoe]

Millions of elderly people in Britain are having to choose between eating and heating their homes because the UK's State pension is so low, and what's more the media are sweeping this issue under the carpet.

The basic state pension for single pensioners is just £97. 25 a week, and this is following a 30, 40, and 50 year working life contributing to the system both taxes and NI contribution which were mandatory

The State pension used to increase with British male average earnings, or inflation whichever the higher to protect its value prior to 1979, but when Thatcher took office in 1979, she broke to state pensions link with male average earnings, and the state pension has decreased in value ever since, being linked to inflation, and New Labour have continued Thatcher's pension policy.

Because we British are not generally politically motivated until things happen to ourselves, I wonder how many on this site know about the very serious plight of pensioners in this country ?

What? I did read your posting. I suspect you're not understanding me actually.

////I suspect you're not understanding me actually///

Oh but I am.

i have my ILs down - paid big wadge of pocket money to each of my 3 kids, volunteered to buy us all a chinese - obviously paid the petrol to travel the 300+ miles here - they do this every few months and they have just booked 2 weeks in june at ibiza. - and she was on disability benefit since the 80's - so guess has't paid vast amounts of NI. If this is what you call poor then so what - they have a good standard of living - they also own and run a car, own teir own house,heat it etc etc