[News] Winter Fuel Payments Are Back

[maffew]

The problem is at what figure do you set it. If they’d done it at £25K then some would have said it’s too high.
Apparently it’s set at £35K as that is the average income in this country, but I don’t know whether that is the correct average income or not

I think it is about the right average income but 70 plus percent of people earn less than the average. And most of those will likely be paying a rent or mortgage

Hence why I don't think a pensioner earning higher than 70% of the working population and owning a property should get a couple of hundred quid in heating subsidies. 35k income is a couple of grand a month plus. If you haven't got to pay 100s or thousands in mortgage or rent that's plenty without being subsidised by younger tax payers trying to make ends meet

 

[maffew]

Oh and this u turn us quite obviously due to Runcorn and Reform votes, it's not about the elderly, or the stabilising of the economy. Suggest if it was about vulnerable people and there's spare money floating about then perhaps Labour could look at the damage that inflated employers contributions on national insurance is doing in social care and to small businesses barely able to pay a living wage

 

[BenGarfield]

The boomer generation (born between ~1946 and ~1964) are notorious amongst young people today for being selfish and self-entitled.

They had what are now 'luxuries' such as affordable housing, free higher education, decent pensions and competitive wages... yet they are the first to argue, sitting in their mortgage free houses, that even the 'triple-lock' pension is not enough - they still want more, neglecting to appreciate how dire things are for young people today.

Young people today, having to try to save the planet that the boomers have effectively destroyed, while being unable to afford houses to live in, or to start families they can't afford. Crap wages, astronomical student debt, pathetic pensions and so on.

Yet boomers NEVER accept how lucky they had it and how they continue to deprive the young people of today from living any kind of life that they did. This is why young people regard boomers are selfish and self-entitled.

If they had any kind of decency, they would surrender their wealth and give young people a real chance in life.

The biggest tragedy of all is that when the reality of what they have done to this world and to the generations of young people today comes into fruition - they'll all be dead and not around to see it.

I agree with you in large part housing market is a nightmare for younger people. In Brighton £200k flats, £24k wages, £900 rent, and student debt? Boomers had it easier with affordable homes and free uni. The “triple-lock” pension debate and the environmental mess adds insult to injury. But the real issue is the system, not just Boomers. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) says the UK government can fix this by spending smarter, since it controls the pound and doesn’t need to borrow. Here’s how:

1. Build Homes: Fund tons of social housing in Brighton. More homes = lower prices (a £200k flat could drop to £180k) or cheaper social rentals (£500–£700/month). MMT says pay for it by creating money, not taxing, unless resources run short.
2. Raise Wages: A Job Guarantee would pay £25k–£30k/year for jobs like building homes or green projects. Employers would have to match it, so your £24k could hit £30k, letting you borrow ~£180k for a flat.
3. Tax Speculators: A Land Value Tax could stop investors jacking up Brighton’s prices for Airbnb. This keeps flats affordable, using taxes to curb demand, not fund spending.
4. Wipe Student Debt: MMT says cancel debt or make uni free again, freeing up £50–£100/month for savings or rent.

The system’s rigged because politicians cling to “no money” myths, protecting landlords and banks. MMT shows we can afford housing and wages, like when Harry Wilson`s namesake built homes in the ‘60s, but without his budget fears.

 

[HillBarnTillIDie]

Agreed. But at least they seem to have arrived at a sensible point now - political damage done though.

Yhep… but if it wasn’t for the fear they have of the Reform party, I very much doubt they’d of back tracked.

I’ve always believed a political system like ours relies heavily on a strong opposition.
Weak political opposition = bad outcomes for the country. The last 20 years or so has proven that.

 

[The Rivet]

For clarity the payment is on £35k per household, whether occupied by one or more.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don't regard myself as selfish and entitled, and I know my family and friends wouldn't describe me like that either, but dignity prevents me from trying to illustrate that. There are certainly older individuals -- probably quite a few -- who could be called those things, just as there are plenty of younger people around who also deserve that label. But entire generations, whether old or young, can't be dismissed like that, and don't deserve to be.

You seem to see the world and your life in massive generalisations. Old people are all X while young people are all Y. If you described gay or black or disabled people, or women, in that way, you'd be (rightly) criticised but ageism seems to be the last acceptable prejudice.

I grew up in a totally different era when different standards prevailed. Some better, some worse. When I was a kid, homosexuality was illegal, class and social mobility were almost zero, sexism and racism were openly celebrated on primetime TV, almost no one I knew had ever travelled out of the country, many people couldn't afford a car or a telephone. On the other hand, the one massive advantage I had that I'm very aware of was free university education and maintenance grants. IMO those things should never have been abolished but to somehow blame me or an entire generation for that is ignorant and childish. Politicians and educational institutions made those decisions, not some great council of oldies who got together in their millions to wave their pitchforks at young people.

Funnily enough, I also grew up thinking that other people, usually older, were luckier than me. Other people always seemed to have more money, better jobs and cars and relationships than me. It wasn't until my thirties that I finally realised that I had agency over my own existence and happiness, and that as long as I was able-bodied and reasonably rational then it was up to me, and up to us as individuals, to create our own paths through life. I found that learning not to blame other people for my own situation was very liberating.

Brilliant post.
We either find a way to own our lives or we are simply governed.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The problem is at what figure do you set it. If they’d done it at £25K then some would have said it’s too high.
Apparently it’s set at £35K as that is the average income in this country, but I don’t know whether that is the correct average income or not.

Indeed.
It seems that for some Labour can't be allowed any sort of win.

This largely bypasses me, because the only moaning I see is from a minority of rather exercised NSC posters,
and a glimpse of a tory rag headline out the corner of my eye whilst perambulating.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Yhep… but if it wasn’t for the fear they have of the Reform party, I very much doubt they’d of back tracked.

I’ve always believed a political system like ours relies heavily on a strong opposition.
Weak political opposition = bad outcomes for the country. The last 20 years or so has proven that.

Almost by definition every opposition is weak - because they lost the previous election.
You can blame weak labour for Johnson winning (this is partly true),
But then labour got stronger and won.
Or was did they win because the tories got weak and lost?
If so we have weak government and weak opposition.
Or maybe it is simply the same as it ever was:
People tire of the incumbents eventually and vote for the other lot.

The only strong opposition I remember was Mr Tony, and before that Mrs T.
And both 'changed' when in power. And changing won them both 3 elections.
And half the old buffers like me left alive still hate Thatcher while the rest still hate Blair.

I don't think you have just discovered anything insightful.

Also, by the look of it, we now have a massively strong opposition.
Reform. People love them, apparently