Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling said:
"This is a massive u-turn. In the summer pensions ministers Mike O'Brien was very ready to make all the right noises for the women concerned but when it comes to a decision not to do something, it is slipped out at the end of the parliamentary session when nobody has noticed. This is a betrayal of stay at home mums."Age Concern spokesman Michelle Mitchell said:
"This is a slap in the face for thousands of women in or approaching retirement who are being penalised for taking time out of work to care." And that this would: "Condemn many more women to poverty."The Lords however have promised to push through the scheme anyway, even if it means doing it in the face of government opposition. Lord Oakeshott, the Lib Dem pension spokesman, said:
"When the u-turn was announced you could see a wave of revulsion sweep around the House. "Gordon Brown should be ashamed of himself for sneaking this out just before Christmas. "He must have a heart of stone to do this to millions of women and carers who had had their hopes raised by the government that they could buy back missing years which stopped them qualifying for a full pension."So as Gordon makes one announcement to repay the pensions (up to 90% of their value) that he ruined through his own incompetence, he sneakily dumps an amendment that could have made life a whole lot more secure for millions of women. It's not just the dumping of the scheme that infuriates me, it's the despicable way that it was announced.
Trust? shame? honesty? - Gordon and his cronies do not know the meaning of those words.
9 comments:
I think this Governments deceit is becoming quite legendary. I think Brown realises he's got no chance of winning the next election so he will do as much damage as he can to the economic stability of this country. My industry has taken a particular battering.
www.nationalassociationoflicensees.co.uk
I'm suprised they didn't justify it by saying they thought it would be unfair for those who could afford to buy the extra years to be allowed to gain an advantage. This is the usual excuse they trot out when anyone wishes to use their own taxed income to help themselves.
Hello Bob,
I have to agree, it's a given that an out-going party will try to make those replacing them look as bad as possible, and sod how much harm it does to the country.
Mrs Smallprint,
Brown has made a mess of the books and is now trying to save the pennies. This should have been all over the media.
It seems, having watched a profile on David Cameron last night, the media and some within his whole party do not believe he is up to the job, and it has to be said, in my view, he does rather run with the Hare and play with the Hounds. In today's climate of political mistrust by the people I think this could be his down all. As a UKIP PPC I of course want our party to do well, however the country cannot survive a 4th term of Labour.
Bob,
Would you vote Tory if it meant getting rid of Brown?
You would need to get rid of Cameron and a raft of others before I would even consider returning. I believe the Tories have consistently squandered any opportunity to regain the high ground. As a small business I need stability. Towards the end of Tory rule that had gone, and under Labour it is much worse. William Hague has already said if it were a choice between a referendum on the treaty, which is what 75% of the public want, or abandoning that if the choice was in or out of Europe, the Tories would opt to stay in Europe even though a growing number 45% at the last count would no vote to leave. The Tories are treading water. Even their own people are now saying they can't win the next election.
I think there should be a rule against announcing any Government decisions, or releasing any Government statistics except during a Parliamentary session which still has at least ten days to run; a rule which should be rigorously enforced by the Speaker.*
______________
*In your dreams, Trumpeter.
Trumpeter,
Yeah it would be nice. But that would involve a little honesty.
Post a Comment