WE PENSIONERS WERE  ‘CON-DEM’-d  AT THE BLACKPOOL PENSIONERS PARLIAMENT 2010 !!

With a shuffle the incoming coalition government made it quite plain they were in a mindset that they sought to and desired to bring in fresh ideas, they wanted to consult with the public on the people’s feelings about how things were to proceed in these ‘shaky’ days of economic problems.

They profess to seek  a big and fair society and to be a listener in matters that are difficult for the public to endure, and unpopular to legislate,  in short they wanted (they said) to involve us. 

It was therefore more than breathtakingly unbelivable to appreciate the new Governments negative response to the annual invite to sending representative speakers to the 18th  annual  NPC  ‘Pensioners Parliament’  in Blackpool  in June.  Here at the prestigious Winter Gardens some two and a half to three thousand pensioner delegates from the four corners of the British Isles were assembled under one roof expecting to hear politicians from all three main parties explain their outline proposals for the futures of the ageing population, and how the economic situation will affect those who, firstly had nothing to do with the crisis, and secondly - are all tied to a fixed income (or stipend) .

The Government response was that there was a three line whip in force in ‘the house’ that night and no one could be spared to speak to the elderly.

So much for “involvement” with the people  by the Dave and Nick duo then – when in the very same instance Ruth Marks, the Labour party shadow pensions person managed not only to put in a full afternoons appearance – but was able to organize her return to London to be in time for her part in the three line whip vote that night at 10 pm.

And so business went ahead with a partly ‘scratch’ panel in a “Question time” type afternoon session – with selected questions from all areas of the country on matters of prime importance to the average pensioner. It was very much a ”billions for bankers and peanuts for pensioners” question session, with various experts including the  Editor of the ‘Mature Times’ and the Secretary of the National Pensioners Convention  trying to assess the way ahead in the next few years of coalition government.

It was interesting to learn that some right wing factions of the Conservative party were demanding the abolition of important benefits affecting us – the complete scrapping of the fuel allowances, pensioners credit and so on, but by the same token the Labour spokesperson reeled off a whole list of things that need to done to aid pensions – but one can only sit back and say- why were these not implemented in the past thirteen years then ?

The general   impression was of  hang on to what we have got – for dear life !  and with a million pensioners still in poverty – whilst the ring fenced National Insurance fund ( now used for investment in gilts by the Government)  – has swollen to an obscene 54 billion pounds which in itself could well take the present pension figure up above the governments MINIMUM POVERTY LEVEL (of £165 per week).  For the Government then, they deny the very existence of the National Insurance fund, and it was said to be a “notional “ thing  ( and we must ask why then,  we had been paying it all these years !).

We are a country which – In 1912 passed laws to protect animals – followed in 1933 by laws to protect children – but which despite all – has no laws to protect the aged – either from imposed poverty conditions or abuse, which unfortunately is rife in today’s society. There are records showing that there are currently 340,000 pensioners being abused in some way per annum, with at least 50% of care homes failing to provide minimum standards for their inmates.

The “Any questions” format – so well received last year, but with the lack of MPs on the panel   this year (now the election is behind them of course) went on as planned with Rodney Bickerstaffe able to do a really good job as the chairman of the session. The questions were clear cut, to the point and covered a multitude of factors. One pensioners group had made  an exercise to monitor some figures from 1979 to date. The local MPs salary had risen 66%, the general cost of living  by  44% and the state pension by 33%.  How about asking a few MPs to try and live on £95 a week, and  see how they cope, it having been pointed out by Dot Gibson – the NPC general secretary  that the Governments own figures  now set the poverty line at £165 p. week !

 So the Governments response is to put Frank Field (Lab) in to do an enquiry into poverty, however his investigations must not go into matters of income – this will be a most interesting exercise !

Care of the elderly was high on the agenda, calls for a National care service to be created  were  supported by the NPC, calling for care to be funded through general taxation in future, as profit and care do not mix – and the privatization of the service is so dangerous

Questions ranged wide and far – on the disappearing public toilets, the apparent disappearance soon of the cheque system of money payments and the restoration of wardens  in sheltered housing. Fuel payments came in for a great deal of discussion – and it was pointed out that 300,000 “excess’ winter deaths through cold were caused in the Labour years to us old folk.

There were nasty rumours of the Freedom Pass being tinkered with and the NPC stated that they would oppose this most strongly – and that any shortcomings would lead to revolution on the streets of London, at least, if not countrywide.   

On the proposed Post Office privatization – there were arrangements at a recent meeting of  business firms eager to take over the mail to have fewer pillar boxes – and for deliveries to be made not to individual homes – but to purpose built pick up points serving several roads or an area – where  ‘customers’ would be allocated a box and key to enable collection of their own mail, similar to that of the United States postal service.  

With a mass lobby of Parliament announced by the NPC and trades unions on October 27 – our chance will come to make a vivid impression on all the new incoming MPs – as to what a force in the land the “grey vote” can be – and to tell them the time of day – and just what us pensioners are seeking after a lifetime of supporting the country, that its not too much to ask that we have some support ourselves in our latter years.