State Pensions

When will things change? -- as of NOW -- PENSIONERS out number ANY OTHER type of voter even by race - religion - or age ---

WHEN ARE PENSIONERS going to wake up and understand, WE have the power to shape legislation all WE need is the will power to do so, and the "GREY REVOLUTION" will begin --- MAYBE !

 POLITICIANS PLEASE PAY ATTENTION !

‘Entitlement’ ?, I paid good money for my State Pension and other benefits. Just because they borrowed that money, doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or hand-out. Gold plated MP pensions and Civil Service Government benefits, which provide free healthcare, outrageous retirement packages, 20 weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days, now that's welfare, and they have the nerve to call me a 'greedy pensioner' and my retirement, an ‘entitlement’.

What the HELL is wrong with us?

WAKE UP BRITAIN !

Someone please tell me what the HELL is wrong with all the people that run this country? 

We're "broke" and can't help our own Pensioners, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless etc., but spent 1.2 billions of £££'s for G-20 events! 
In the last few months we have provided aid to India, Greece and Turkey . And now Afghanistan , Pakistan ...... home of Bin Laden. Literally, BILLIONS of POUNDS!

Our pensioners living on a 'fixed income', receive no aid nor do they get any breaks while our government and religious, organisations pour Hundreds of Billions of ££££'s and tons of food to foreign countries, where frequently it is sold on the black market and the money squirreled away into the bank accounts of despots.

They call Old Age Security and Healthcare an entitlement, even though most of us have been paying for it all our working lives, and now when it’s time for us to collect, the government is running out of money. Why did the government borrow from it in the first place? 
We have hundreds of adoptable children who are shoved aside to make room for the adoption of foreign orphans. 

GREAT BRITAIN: a country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed hungry, hospitals being closed, average income families who can't afford dental care, elderly going without 'needed' medicins and having to travel hundreds of miles for medical care with no reimbursement of cost, vehicles we can't afford fuel for, lack of affordable housing, and mentally ill without treatment - etc., etc. 

YET...
They have a 'benefit' for the people of foreign countries...ships and planes lining up with food, water, tents, clothes, bedding, doctors, and medical supplies. 

Imagine if the *GOVERNMENT* gave 'US' the same support they give to other countries. 

Sad isn't it?

Michael George Bichard, Baron Bichard, KGB,

Retired people should work for their pensions, says Lord Bichard. The fact that pensioners already have worked for their pension, by definition, doesn't faze him. Pensioners are a "negative burden" on the state, who need to be "incentivised" into doing jobs that young people could do for a wage.

Bichard admits that forcing pensioners to work will be hard to sell to the public. But then, as he puts it, "so was tuition fees". 

The interesting thing about Bichard is that he isn't some rabid Tory. He is a cross-bench peer, a technocratic former senior civil servant who worked closely with the last Labour government.

He has said that retired people should do community work or face losing part of their pension so as not to be a burden on the state.

Firstly, this peer should know that pensioners have paid in for their pensions in good faith, having been told that National Insurance would give them a good pension. People have contributed for their pensions and it is their pension.  It is not for the government to use as a carrot or a stick. During good times, the government should have built up a pension reserve rather than used pension funds for funding vanity projects like the millennium dome so that state pensions were not the giant Ponzi scheme they are now. 

Lord Bichard also needs reminding that community service is a judicial sanction judges can give criminals.  Is being a pensioner therefore, going to be a criminal act in his brave new world?

His lordship is setting a perfect example

At the ripe old age of 54 he retired from the Civil Service in May 2001 with a pension of £120,000 p.a.! (Index Linked) and picks up £650 for each visit to the Lords.

EU Referendum

"It is time for the British people to have their say," David Cameron said. "It is time to settle this European question in British politics. I say to the British people: this will be your decision." But in fact under current legislation it is only some British citizens who will have their say.

Setting out the conditions for a future poll, he said: "The next Conservative manifesto in 2015 will ask for a mandate from the British people for a Conservative government to negotiate a new settlement with our European partners in the next parliament.

Under UK law, expatriates who have spent more than 15 years abroad are denied the vote.

These are some of the people who will be most affected by departure from the EU 

Universal suffrage is set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Surely, Universal, means 'everybody'.

Expatriates living, legally, within Europe are not going that far. They are very modest in their claim. All they want is the right to vote in elections for their own Government.

At a time in the UK when there's great concern about participation in democracy, for the government to find reasons not to let them vote is curious indeed. One would think they'd be looking for reasons to get people to vote, because there is a danger to democracy if people don't vote.

We have a situation where expatriates who still pay their taxes to the UK, are not allowed to vote. We are allowed to live and work anywhere in Europe under European law, that all previous Governments have signed up for, and there is now a promise to hold a referendum on our future membership of Europe that could affect a large number of expatriates who are not allowed to vote. That is unacceptable.

But there are important hurdles. Cameron has to win the next election with an overall majority. His European partners will have to be willing to renegotiate Britain's relationship. As far as Brussels is concerned., they are clear that allowing one country to change the rules on a unilateral basis is a non-starter.

The European Commission won't like being singled out again by Cameron. He essentially said it shouldn't get any more power or influence.

Labour leader Ed Miliband blasted the PM as having “lost control over his party”., and said that Labour's position is,: British people should not be allowed a voice, during Prime Ministers Questions. Labour said the referendum pledge defined Mr Cameron "as a weak prime minister, being driven by his party, not by the national economic interest".

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said. "We understand the need for change but I don't honestly believe the best way to get change in a club of 27 is to stand at the exit door demanding change or threatening to leave,"

 It's us, the citizens of the UK, that vote for who we want to lead us in government and we would hope that they will give us a chance to now vote on a very important decision that we never voted for in the first place! Mr Cameron argues that the British people's consent for the EU is "wafer thin"

I agree, at his moment in time, I believe the majority of the British public would vote to leave the EU. Many people say that it would be difficult to withdraw from Europe, but withdrawal from the European Union is a right of every member state under Article 50: "Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements."

The charm offensive for the next election has begun, leaving labour with a problem defending their no referendum stance, when you hear, on a daily basis, people calling for a referendum.

The voting during any future referendum could well be distorted by large numbers of UK citizens, with fixed ideas about specific subjects. One that stands out clearly above the rest – immigration.

By the time the referendum takes place many new immigrants will have arrived from Bulgaria & Romania, further straining an economy and infrastructure that is creaking. Immigration has got out of control, mainly because of the policies of the Labour party during the Premierships of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, who were thought to be acting to distort future voting patterns. The thinking being that the poor voters of the ex eastern bloc countries would be more likely to vote for Labour.

The other thing that clouds people’s judgment of the EU, is because of some of the more bizarre directives that have come from Europe, the bent or straight bananas debate being one of them. Some of these directives have become street myths with no basis in fact, that politicians have been content to run, without correction.

A big problem that needs addressing, is the bureaucracy in the EU, especially when on a regular basis you are confronted with newspapers headlines, such as, "European Union STILL wasting billions every year as auditors refuse to sign off accounts for 18th year in a row... Court of Auditors refuses to give accounts a clean bill of health... again"

The “unelected”  European Commission (EC) is the executive body of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and day-to-day running of the EU, and was set up to act as an independent authority separate from governments,". The members are proposed by their member state governments, one from each. Once proposed, the President delegates portfolios between each of the members. The power of a Commissioner largely depends upon their portfolio, and can vary over time. For example, the Education Commissioner has been growing in importance, in line with the rise in the importance of education and culture in European policy-making. Another example is the Competition Commissioner, who holds a highly visible position with global reach. Before the Commission can assume office, the college as a whole must be approved by the Parliament, but the Commissioners are not directly elected by the citizens.

This is in contrast to the Council, which represents governments, the Parliament, which represents citizens, and the Economic and Social Committee, which represents organised civil society.

Through the article 17 of the Treaty on European Union the Commission has several responsibilities: develop medium-term strategies; draft legislation and arbitrate in the legislative process; represent the EU in trade negotiations; make rules and regulations, for example in competition policy; draw up the budget of the European Union; and to scrutinise the implementation of the treaties and legislation. Each Commissioner has his own staff.

However it is the problems we have had in deporting some very unsavoury characters from the UK as a result of appeals to the European Court on Human Rights, that further angers people. This has nothing to do with membership of the EU.

The European Court on Human Rights was established on the 21 January 1959, under the auspices of the Council of Europe and all of its 47 member states, and included Russia. The court is not part of the European Union, as can be seen by the map of the signatories to the convention. The function of the Court is "to ensure the observance of the engagement undertaken" by the contracting states in relation to the Convention and its protocols. The court's interpretation of the Convention's reach is at times subject to criticism.

There has also been criticism of the Court's structure, and, that it had involved itself in matters that had nothing to do with the structure of the Court according to the Convention".

There have been calls for the ability of the court to interfere in the detail of domestic law to be curtailed, but there must be an effort by UK politicians to separate the court from people’s  mind set that the court if a part of the EU

When the problem of immigration and the ability to deport foreigners who are openly here to cause as much disruption to the country has been solved, I would suggest that, when asked, the UK citizen will be less clear on wanting to leave the EU.

Under UK law, expats who have spent more than 15 years abroad are denied the vote.

Universal suffrage is set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Surely, Universal, means 'everybody'.

Expatriates are not going that far. They are very modest in their claims. All they want is the right to vote in elections.

At a time in the UK when there's great concern about participation in democracy, for the government to find reasons not to let them vote is curious indeed. One would think they'd be looking for reasons to get people to vote, because there is a danger to democracy if people don't vote.

We have a situation where expats pay their taxes but are not allowed to vote. They are allowed to live and work anywhere in Europe under European law that all previous Governments have signed up for. There is now a promise to hold a referendum on our future membership of Europe that could affect a large number of expatriates who are not allowed to vote. That is unacceptable.

 Lord Lexden will once more attempt to obtain Votes and Representation for expatriates, in the House of Lords this afternoon. Wednesday 23rd January

After Mr. Cameron's speech this morning, over one million British Citizens who live in Europe [450,000 are pensioners] should surely have the chance to voice their views, and I call upon you to support Lord Lexden

SHEER POLITICAL HYPOCRICY AT IT’S BEST OR WORST!!!!

The photo displays the smug Mrs May who has set out to destroy the police. First the unnecessary police commissioners and now targeting police pay. It is often said that we pay our police, not for what they do but what they may have to do. A good example is where unarmed police officers have to face armed criminals, attend accidents where there are badly maimed casualties, deal with vomiting and abusive drunks, and worst of all to protect our whimpering politicians.

In a statement, Mrs May said the reforms were part of a programme to 'modernise police pay and conditions, so that they are fair to both officers and the taxpayer'.

Is it fair to the Police that she can introduce this package, knowing that they have no right to strike action in protest. Would the Transport Minister get away with it if he tried to do the same to Tube Drivers. Of course not!

She added: 'The Government's reform programme is working – crime is falling and public confidence is high.'

What members of the public does Mrs May associate with, to come to this judgment. Certainly, no one who lives in some of the more deprived areas of London. How many of her friends come from East Ham, Ilford, Tooting, Balham, Dagenham etc,  but where, she is happy to send young police officers, for a salary that equates to a fraction of what she probably claims in expenses.

Perhaps Mrs May would like to give up her many protection officers, or perhaps she wouldn't have the courage to leave home alone.

At £19,000, Police recruits will now earn less than newly qualified teachers, who are paid £21,588 - nurses, who get £21,176 outside the capital – .

London Underground driver who gets £45,000 and a trainee manager with MacDonalds, which pays  between £18,500 and £21,500.

ELECTORAL REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION  BILL  

Monday January 14th

       Lord Lexden sent the following message
"I shall indeed be putting the case for the action you and your colleagues have been calling for so determinedly (and justly) on 14 January—the second and final day of the Bill’s Committee stage in the Lords.  Labour’s controversial amendment—which has delayed proceedings for so long because Conservatives in the coalition hoped to find a way of avoiding it (they haven’t)—will be the subject of vigorous and perhaps prolonged discussion. I expect to come on after that."

It should be possible to view the proceedings on your computer  via the following link
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Live.aspx

Timing and details are always subject to variation.   

The details of the amendment can be read via the following link. 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2012-2013/0033/amend/ml033-iir.htm

Government reviews and consultations


Richard Bacon, a Tory member of the Commons public accounts committee, yesterday (Thursday 10th January 2013) called on the National Audit Office to investigate if Millions of pounds is being wasted on government reviews and consultations.

The Coalition has opened 984 enquiries – more than one for each day it has been in power – into issues as diverse as ice-cream van chimes, the electronic monitoring of pigs, and include whether street sweepers should require qualifications.

‘The huge scale of these reviews raises questions, and I wouldn’t discourage the National Audit Office from looking at this area,’ said Mr Bacon. ‘On this scale they must have serious financial implications, with hundreds of civil servants being diverted to work on them.

What happened to the Prime Minister's promise to ‘cut through the dither’, and ‘If there is no need for a consultation, don’t have one.’
Whitehall seems to be institutionally predisposed to reviews and consultations, that could be costing tens of millions of pounds.

It is staggering that the Government should spend so much time and money, when the economy and lack of jobs should be their priority!!!

WASTE is what the Government is very good at, because they are able to impose TAXES with little conscience on how it affects the masses. I wouldn't mind betting that if the Prime Minister was asked how much a loaf of bread or a dozen eggs cost he wouldn't have an idea. If a business was run in the same way the Government runs the country, it would not last a day.

As for the "BUFOON"!

In a joint appearance at Downing Street earlier this week, David Cameron and Nick Clegg revealed that a new ‘Freedoms Bill’ would be among key priorities for the next two and a half years of coalition government. 

Apparently, Number 10 asked civil servants to produce a list of ideas that could be included in legislation to reduce state intrusion into everyday life. Some of the ideas that came up were ridiculous and were dismissed out of hand by ministers and their advisers. 

Lowering the age of consent for sexual intercourse from 16 was one of the proposals to emerge from the Number 10 policy unit, together with changes in the laws on public nudity.

Mr Cameron these sorts of stories are making the population mad. It's jobs and the economy that should be taking ALL your efforts, and if you have enough civil servants to waste their time in thinking about other things they should be made redundant.

As for the "BUFOON", what was he doing wasting his time hosting a radio show. Everyone knows that he is finished after the next election. Mr Clegg, jobs - jobs- jobs is your job. Not coming out with the most idiotic ideas that have put your party in fourth place.