MANY of us cheered the impressive victory of the Labour Party at the recent General Election, after a decade of austerity when public services had dwindled in some cases to ineffectiveness operated by demoralised staff. 

At last, there was the opportunity for change.

Heartbreakingly, one of the new government’s first actions was withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance from all but the most financially challenged pensioners. Announcements followed of increases in energy costs this autumn, with anticipated further rises in the new year.

For more than a decade we have regularly taken our banner on the streets of this county and London, expressing our concern at the rate of excessive winter deaths of pensioners due to cold and hunger.  Government policy will sadly probably lead to an increase in the number of these deaths. Some policy, some society!

The indifference to the needs of pensioners has continued through the years, such as the withdrawal of free television licences to those over seventy-five years of age. Ongoing attacks on the triple lock protection on the state pension (which is already inadequate) and because of government policy on personal allowances, is likely to become taxable for even the poorest. Why, when cuts in taxation were deemed appropriate, was National Insurance chosen rather than Income Tax, thus denying this financial benefit to all retired pensioners? Locally, Hampshire County Council never ceases to seek routes to minimize the effectiveness of the bus pass or seek financial benefit from administering the scheme.

Perhaps a return is required to a philosophy that if cash is required to fix a failing society, the proper method is by taxing according to ability to pay and not by blighting the lives of many pensioners by withdrawing benefits.

I am proud that during the recent civil unrest, members of my union, yes, including our Pensioners Section, have joined many other fine people on the streets of our county to express our view that all people in our country have a right to live in peace and harmony without threats, intimidation or persecution. Those who wilfully try to deny these rights should be fiercely challenged.

Chris O’Neill,
Chair - Hampshire Unison Retired Members Section,
Monarch Way, 
Winchester 

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