It was Sir Winston Churchill who
decided that as most people's income went down after they retired from work,
and in recognition of the years they had spent paying tax and National
Insurance, he'd introduce additional tax relief for people over the age of 65.
In the last budget George Osborne, the Chancellor, announced he would axe a special tax break that pensioners have enjoyed since 1925. Currently this gives pensioners a higher tax allowance than the general population. So they can earn an extra £3,000 from pensions or savings, before paying income tax.
Baroness Joan Bakewell, campaigner for older people, called the changes "fundamentally unfair". "The claim that it makes things simpler for pensioners to understand adds insult to injury," she said.
The National Pensioners Convention has launched an 11th-hour bid to stop the Government raising £3.5bn from older taxpayers over the next five years, and in doing so bringing 230,000 retirees back into the tax net. Its online petition has attracted 85,711 signatures. It is just 14,289 short of the 100,000 required for a debate in the House of Commons.
In the last budget George Osborne, the Chancellor, announced he would axe a special tax break that pensioners have enjoyed since 1925. Currently this gives pensioners a higher tax allowance than the general population. So they can earn an extra £3,000 from pensions or savings, before paying income tax.
Baroness Joan Bakewell, campaigner for older people, called the changes "fundamentally unfair". "The claim that it makes things simpler for pensioners to understand adds insult to injury," she said.
The National Pensioners Convention has launched an 11th-hour bid to stop the Government raising £3.5bn from older taxpayers over the next five years, and in doing so bringing 230,000 retirees back into the tax net. Its online petition has attracted 85,711 signatures. It is just 14,289 short of the 100,000 required for a debate in the House of Commons.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, a spokesman for the convention, said: "We want as many people as possible to sign the petition as we need to get the plight of pensioners higher up the political agenda. We do not object to harmonising the tax regimes of those in work and people who are retired. But it should not be done by penalising pensioners."
You can read more at http://tinyurl.com/d743kgs and/or you can sign the petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31778
I've signed it, but the decision is yours whether you sign the petition or not, I'm just bringing it to your attention.
Warning to that little shit Danny Alexander.
ReplyDeleteThe elderly are not fool's.
Myra Rhodes, a little old lady living in Great Baddow, Essex, answered a knock on the door one day, to be confronted by a well-dressed young man carrying a vacuum cleaner.
'Good morning, Ma'am,' said the young man. 'If I could take a couple minutes of your time, I would like to demonstrate the very latest in high-powered vacuum cleaners.'
'Go away!' said Myra brusquely. 'I'm broke and haven't got any money,' and she proceeded to close the door.
Quick as a flash, the young man wedged his foot in the door and pushed it wide open. 'Don't be too hasty,' he commanded. 'Not until you have at least seen my demonstration.' And with that, he emptied a bucket of horse manure onto her hallway carpet.
'Now, if this vacuum cleaner does not remove all traces of this horse manure from your carpet, Madam, I will personally eat the remainder.'
Myra stepped back and said with a smile, 'Well let me get you a spoon, young man because they cut off my electricity this morning.'