ELECTION WEST

Apr 28 2010 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

Labour has delivered real improvements for older people – the winter fuel allowance, free prescriptions and eye tests, free TV licences for over-75s.

Labour will restore the link between the state pension and earnings, help ten million people build up savings, and establish a National Care Service to ensure that everyone who needs care is properly looked after.

We would end discriminatory and complex means-testing on pensions and would ŠrollŠ all State Pension,ŠPension Credits and the Winter Fuel Allowance into a Flat-Rate, non-means tested, non-contributory and non-taxable “Citizens Pension” of £130.00 per week .

We would leave the EU to avoid massive liabilities in supporting unfunded EU pensions.

Now is the time to show respect to the older generations.

After all, they paid taxes all their working life.

I would stop benefit scroungers. No one on benefit should get more than 70% of the minimum wage.

It is commonsense to make it clear that you are better off if you work.

Then we could afford to give pensioners the pay rise they deserve.

I would campaign in support of the Pensioners’ Manifesto.

I support calls for the basic state pension to be raised above the official poverty level; the introduction of free long-term and social care; local services to be funded nationally rather than through council tax; the ending of age discrimination and the raising of winter fuel allowance.

First we will raise the basic state pension in line with earnings, second, end the obligation to buy an annuity at 75, third freeze council tax for the next 2 years.

We pledge to keep the winter fuel payment, free bus passes, free TV licence, pension credits and introduce a new ‘home protection scheme’ so people won’t have to sell their home to pay for care.

Chiefly we need to restore the link between the state pension and earnings, which was ended by the Conservatives.

Going beyond that we need more integration between the NHS and Social Services. There are specific health problems that older people are more prone to and I feel that a lot more should be done over conditions such as dementia.

We need innovative solutions to ensure that our leisure and cultural assets are sustainable.

We need to learn lessons from the past around issues such as understanding need, and carrying out effective consultation.

I hope there is a genuine debate and that people don’t simply adopt an oppositionist stance to change.

UKIP if elected wouldŠ adopt a policy of maintaining and where possible improving Wirral’s leisure and cultural services.Š

I am particularly determined that Guinea Gap baths in Wallasey are protected from more cultural vandalism by the local authority.

In the drive to save taxpayers money our illustrious decision makers never thought to sack themselves.

Instead they attacked softer targets.

In difficult times it is commonsense to develop leisure centres to aid keeping fit, to keep the youth off the streets, and to be a cultural centre.

Having been at the forefront of the campaign to save our precious libraries and other cultural amenities from the axe, I would have no hesitation in adopting the same stance again.

I believe passionately in improving people’s access to libraries and cultural amenities, not taking an axe to them.ŠŠ

The same stance I had right from the beginning – to oppose such ill thought-through cuts and fight for what was right.

Underpinning my decision was the fundamental ‘value’ of these services to all ages and the long term ‘cost’ inflicted on the local community had such amenities been allowed to be removed.

I would behave the same if there was a threat to any of Wirral’s local services, not just leisure and cultural services, but also adult social services or children's service.

I would want to ensure that the people who would be affected are consulted and the council has agreed new consultation procedures.