Campaigners accuse think-tank of “pensioner bashing”

Monday, 20 February 2012

Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, The National Pensioners Convention

(NPC) has accused the Social Market Foundation of “pensioner bashing” following the think-tank’s latest call for free bus travel to be scrapped and the winter fuel allowance and free TV licences to be means-tested.

Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said:

“Once again pensioners are being told they must pay for the mistakes of the financial sector, by losing their free bus pass or winter fuel allowance. The Social Market Foundation is completely wrong to claim that free bus travel doesn’t contribute anything to the economy – when it enables older people to get out and about and spend money in their local area, as well as allowing them to do unpaid voluntary work that adds an estimated £40bn to our communities every year."

"Taking the bus pass away would inevitably lead to greater levels of social isolation that would end up costing more in terms of increased demand for care and support. The deputy Prime Minister has tried to suggest that millionaires should no longer receive a bus pass – but the truth no-one can find any millionaires using a bus pass."

"This is just a smoke screen to take away the benefit from everyone – including the very poorest in our society. In effect it amounts to little more than “pensioner bashing” – trying to blame today’s older generation for the economic crisis they didn’t cause. Any political party that seeks to take away the bus pass will have one hell of a fight on its hands.”