MPs should share the burden (From Oxford Mail)

While I totally agree with David's letter I must point out there are some pensioners who are more than sharing the burden, in fact they have been doing so for the last 60 years or more. I refer to the 4% of pensioners who have retired and moved to another country for their 'golden years', mainly British Commonwealth countries, only to find that their 'paid for' state pension is frozen at the rate it is first awarded. This discrimination has been in place and upheld by all parties since the 1940's although when they are in opposition they say they will change it, but when they achieve power they promptly forget. David Cameron, Steve Webb and Nick Clegg are the last ones who professed that it was wrong but they now are in the position to change it but they do nothing, you cannot trust a politician to tell the truth, they do not know how to. Scrounger8, Canada

You are just not getting it are you David Winkfield? When MP'S take up the post of government ministers they have to swear a hypocritical oath, (not to be confused with the medical oath), in order to govern the rest of us serfs. That immediately absolves them of any promises made before the election and covers the lies told to the taxpayers during their term of office. The mindset of these millionaire ministers is on a different planet to the rest of us. Take the frozen pension policy, to you and I (ie. normal thinking people) to treat just 4% of state pensioners in this way, a pension is frozen if one retires to Canada but not in the USA, frozen in Thailand but not in Israel, frozen in Australia but not in Philippines, I could go on, is discrimination, illogical, unfair, again I could go on, right? To these ministers it is not any of the above. Except of course when an MP is in opposition, then it is ALL of the above and they will promise to end the injustice of frozen pensions if only we would vote for them. Are you seeing a pattern here? So in essence to be a politician you have to make the poorest pay for the cockups of the millionaires, reduce their income, not the mega rich as they have a certain lifestyle to maintain, and to be able to say in media speeches ie. David Cameron has said "I want to be clear, two years ago I made a promise to the elderly of this country and I am keeping it, I was elected on a mandate to protect those benefits." Are those the same benefits you want to cut David? ........ What about that other promise David.....you know the one made before the election about ending frozen state pensions? When is that going to happen?..... So Mr Winkfield once you understand these people who we thought we elected to work for us but instead look after themselves and in fact work against us, it all becomes clear. Once they take the oath they can be hypocrites and liars to their hearts content and still sleep the sleep of the blameless in their fourposter beds tucked under their silk sheets smug in the knowledge that they are sharing the burden of the debt amongst the most vulnerable citizens of a once great country.

I read the letters as I usually do and figured I would comment later on. On my return I find two letters that have taken the words out of my mouth. I have commented before about David Cameron and his promises and nothing has changed my view. If a promise is made then it should be kept and the referendum over the EU immediately comes to mind along with that of another minister Steve Webb who signed an EDM to do away with the unfair and discriminative freezing policy. When, when, when are we going to get honest and right thinking Members of Parliament to represent us who will act appropriately ad with a conscience. So the country has debts and the MP's who made the bad decisions should also show respect to all and put their hands into their own pockets as well as those of the taxpayer or pensioner.

I agree 100% with David Winkfield and also with the moving and very true comments posted here.
The MPs who wrote the laws that reduce the standards of living of a country's citizens should be the first to set the standard. Let then submitt to a means test - and if they can't afford the benefit they claim - then OK let them have it. But somehow I think not too many would allow themselves to be tested.
I'm one of the 4% of British OAPs who is tested every time I put my hand in my pocket - only to find that I've got less this year than last year.
My UK state pension is "frozen" because I retired to Canada to be with my family.
If my family lived in the USA (20 minutes drive away) and I'd gone there instead - then my pension would be increased just like those in the UK.
What I can't understand is that I've paid 40 years contributions into the UK National Insurance Fund - which if I was still in the UK, or the EU, or the USA, or a number of other countries would get me a full indea linked pension.
But because I've "broken the rules" and retired to Canada - that's on another list of countries where your UK pension is frozen for life - I get bugger all in the way of a yearly increase.
Where are the morals of the MPs who allow this cruelty and discrimination to continue?
Where is the justice in a system that says "We wrote the law so we can't break it - see?"
Where is the fairness in a policy that gives to one but not to the other - when both have paid the same for their pensions?
Where is the pension I paid for David Cameron??