Forget TV dinners - Tory plans mean it may be TV or dinner for our elderly, says Labour's Liz .




Southport's older residents are increasingly seen as "fair game" for attack by the Tories claims Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for the town, Liz Savage.


It follows a series of reports highlighting how the Conservative government is trying to reduce the circumstances of older age groups.




The government was recently accused of "sneaking out" potentially devastating changes to pension credits that could see losses of up to £7,000 for elderly residents where their partner is under retirement age.





News of the change was released as the government suffered it's huge Brexit defeat on Mrs May's deal and went largely unnoticed at the time as a result.




Free TV for over 75's is also under threat. The BBC is looking to scrap the concession after the Tories managed to offload the near three-quarter of a billion pound cost of it onto the broadcaster by 2020. Previously, government has paid for the entitlement - something Labour had given the age-group for free in a bid to help with issues such as social isolation.




Liz Savage says that there have been a series of indicators causing concern:


"The Tories have extended retirement age, and let down the WASPI women; TV licenses are now under threat; there was their failed attempt at introducing the dementia tax in the last election, and Age UK is estimating that 1.2 million older people are not receiving the care they need."




"It's increasingly uncomfortable to be older in Tory Britain and they seem to be fair game to the Conservatives."




Her concern comes as research by Age UK reveals that some over 75s will have have to cut back on food and heating to keep using their TV's legally. Liz Savage continued:




"TVs are often vital to the over 75's, to force them to choose between food and what may be their sole comfort is incredibly cold-hearted."




Tom Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, believes the government must relent:




“The prospect of older people having to cut back on heating or food in order to keep their TV should leave the Tories examining their consciences.“




"Theresa May’s manifesto promised that TV licences for over 75s would be protected. If the Government had any compassion for these older people they would step in and save their free TV licences.”

The assumption that all pensioners are poor is the problem with this.

Many younger people would love the financial security many of our home owning fat pensioned older people have.

Target resources to those who need it the most is surely more in line with socialist thinking.

Does every household need a free TV licence, there are many that don't with private pensions and state pension income. Similarly winter fuel allowance, target those who actually need the benefit as Local said.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

research by Age UK reveals that some over 75s will have have to cut back on food and heating to keep using their TV's l

Originally Posted by local

The assumption that all pensioners are poor is the problem with this.

Many younger people would love the financial security many of our home owning fat pensioned older people have.

Target resources to those who need it the most is surely more in line with socialist thinking.

This "benefit" is something that has to be applied for and is not granted automatically - see https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information...e-concessions/ ... I suppose it is up to the individual to apply for this (or not) as appropriate, although in reality I suspect there are very few who feel they can afford not to apply.

You make a valid point about targeting resources but it is no surprise that under this present regime, some of the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society are targeted for what is effectively, in the great scheme of things, penny pinching.

Originally Posted by gsgsgs

Does every household need a free TV licence, there are many that don't with private pensions and state pension income. Similarly winter fuel allowance, target those who actually need the benefit as Local said.

The winter fuel allowance is known as the wine allowance by many who get it but don't need it.

Originally Posted by AdmiralAckbar

This "benefit" is something that has to be applied for and is not granted automatically - see https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information...e-concessions/ ... I suppose it is up to the individual to apply for this (or not) as appropriate, although in reality I suspect there are very few who feel they can afford not to apply.

You make a valid point about targeting resources but it is no surprise that under this present regime, some of the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society are targeted for what is effectively, in the great scheme of things, penny pinching.

Some advice I was given some years ago was look for the roughest pub in the town then go in the vaults and listen for the barrack room lawyer, the knowledge of negotiating the Benefit System will soon be revealed for the price of a pint.

They keep telling us there are £millions of benefits going unclaimed every year and there are people maybe not media savvy who get no help but no one gives you a helping hand you have to do it yourself.

This woman is so misleading , can't
she understand that if there's no money
then you can't have it.

Originally Posted by ausard2

This woman is so misleading , can't
she understand that if there's no money
then you can't have it.

Assuming you are referring to Ms Savage, can you quote the bit in the report where you think she is being misleading?

Unless, of course, you actual mean Ms May ...

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Theresa May’s manifesto promised that TV licences for over 75s would be protected.

... and as for the availability of money, this government seems able to find it when it needs it eg. buying the DUP support after the last election, and more recently trying to buy MP's support for her Brexit scheme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47103755

Originally Posted by ausard2

This woman is so misleading , can't
she understand that if there's no money
then you can't have it.

There is plenty of money for grandiose schemes in London and the South East, plenty of money to bribe the DUP and even attempt to buy her Brexit deal through parliament, plenty of money for tax breaks and cuts for the wealthy, plenty of money wasted paying of the financial mess from privatisation failures, but for a relative small number of pensioners must make cuts, remember all of you who think the majority of pensioners are wealthy, just stick around, your time will come.

Originally Posted by ausard2

This woman is so misleading , can't
she understand that if there's no money
then you can't have it.

Probably the only sensible post in this thread - is this really an issue any serious Labour candidate should be spending time on ? It looks exactly like what it is - a rather pathetic attempt to gain political capital on the back of some tenuous link to 'poor pensioners'.