A pledge to pensioners

I have written before about how Labour's very raison d'etre is to campaign on the politics of fear. By frightening vulnerable groups such as pensioners with mythical "Tory cuts", Gordon Brown hopes to steal a last minute election victory. Yet, as I wrote yesterday, it is this very Labour Government that has publicly stated its intention to make more savage cuts than happened even during Mrs Thatcher's time as Prime Minister.

For this reason, I am pleased that David Cameron has tackled the politics of fear head-on and announced a number of pledges to pensioners. This is of real importance than because we have more pensioners living in poverty in the UK - than anywhere in Western Europe.

A Conservative Government will keep the free bus pass, will maintain the winter fuel payment and the pension credit.

Moreover, Conservatives will restore the earnings link to pensions and increase the value of the basic state pension.

For those with personal pensions, there will be an end to the rule forcing pensioners to get a compulsory annuity. Assistance will also be given to help people with long term care, so they don't have to sell their homes.

This is good news for pensioners and bad news for the Brownite fear-mongers.

More details are on the Conservative Home website, HERE.