Bazj Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Along comes some half wit stupid Tory MP to say lets take the winter fuel allowance off pensioners who live abroad. But not the ones who go abroad for the winter??? What bloody planet is he on? In a country where we hand out child benefits to foreigners who have kids who live halfway round the world, or give extra benefits the more wives some ethnic community members have, he wants to stop money going to people who have paid into our system all their working life just because they live in Spain! but if they only go for the winter.... he wants them to still get the allowance! Doesn't the prat realise that it gets cold in Spain too? we took my 80 odd year old mum to Ibiza in a heatwave and she still wore a cardigan at night!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 she still wore a cardigan at night!! What!.... not a nightie or jim jams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Eh If they can afford to jet off to to Spain for the winter they can't be doing that bad on their pensions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayC Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Dismayed. Surely its not about what they can afford its about what they are entitled too. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Maybe but still can't get my head round this one. Surely they go to Spain in the wimter to get away from the UK's chilly climate so therefore they dont like being in the UK at winter time... Like I said the money they spend when they are there goes towards the Spanish economy and not the UK's so still don't see why they should get UK handouts if they aren't actually here. I'm here, I'm bloody freezing and I don't get a penny towards my heating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Presumably, the allowance is "so they can keep themselves warm in Winter" - some do it by having their heating on longer, and presumably some do it by moving to a warmer climate?! Alas, a slight improvement on Maggie's advice to pensioners - wrap up with extra layers of clothing; no wonder so many died of hyperthermia under her regime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 It's a good job we don't get "COLD" winters anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Of course there are some of us who belive that if the tax and benefits system was simplified and a more realistic state pension was paid the sort of things being discussed here would not happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Perhaps IF the Utilities were re-Nationalised, essential fuel costs could be subsidised and thus controlled, thus ensuring everyone accessed the basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Somehow I think not - dream on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Originally posted by Geoff Settle: Somehow I think not - dream on What do you think not about? Re-nationalising? or it would not be better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Rather agree with you Geoff, particularly since many of our utilities are now foreign owned. My understanding of EU rules is that industries cannot be nationalised, the UK is treading a fine line with its nationalisation of Northern Rock. Of course the irony with the privatisation of our utilities(I never bought any shares ) was that it was meant to create competition, the reality is that by and large, true competition was never really created and many utilities merged into larger utility companies to stifle competition....and the regulators have been ineffective...and of course in a truely competitive industry you don't need a regulator as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Such is the nature of the "private" sector Paul; Nationalisation gives democratic control; and the fact the EU objects to it is yet another reason to leave the EU ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Chaos Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Yep Nationalisation obviously works... I can remember the democracy involved in the British Leyland Motor Corporation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Seems even Tories recognise that the only way to save companies is to Nationalise them - EG remember Rolls Royce?! As for the Utilities: once upon a time, I paid BRITISH GAS for my gas, MANWEB for electricity; N/W WATER for water and BRITISH Telecom for my phone - giving unto Ceasare what was Ceasare's and knowing exactly who was who, and what was what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Chaos Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Rolls Royce was nationalised in 1971.. by Heath but privatised in 1987.. don't quite get your point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Point being that the Tory creed would normally allow it to go into administration; but they decided to rescue it through Nationalisation; making it a BRITISH Company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Chaos Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 I was just wondering how something that happened in 1971 had any relevance to 2008? Never mind the changes in the political map and policies over the last 37 years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Simple Gung; it's called history and is about political consistency and principles - although I realise expediency is the current political currency, whatever suits the moment - and me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Chaos Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 I doubt there has ever been any longevity to political consistency and principles and certainly after 1979 and the realisation of the multitude of political disasters throughout the 1960s and 1970s by both major parties. Socialism died in reality after 1985 with Kinnock's defeat of the militant tendency until Monday when a "group of Labour MPs broke into a chorus of "The Red Flag" in the corridor outside the tea room after 3rd reading of the Banking (Special Provisions) Bill". The dark days may very well be returning.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 20, 2008 Report Share Posted February 20, 2008 Presumably then, you believe we're currently living in an enlightened period - don't make me laugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 As if to rub salt in the wound; British Gas (privately owned), having hiked their charges by 15% has just increased their profits five fold - says it all really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Chaos Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 Customers do have the choice of their gas supplier, and if people want to contribute to such profits then it is up to them.. I don't believe that if it wasn't a private company consumers would have any choice in who supplies their gas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 Please advise on the mechanics of Gas transportation - then explain "choice"? Absolute load of notional nonesense, just to allow blood sucking shareholders to feed of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 But the truth is that, by shopping around, you CAN pay less for the "same gas". Don't ask me how it works, I'm only a simple sailor. And you are perfectly correct that the energy suppliers are profiteers, but that's what people go into business for - to make profits. And the truth is that if the energy were privatised we would be paying more for a poorer service. It's all very well dreaming about government that has our best interests at heart. There's no such animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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