BRITISH PENSION (inc frozen) SHAME
A DISCRIMINATION OF DISGRACE
parity-warrior.com web site has done the frozen pensioners well for many years. The last editor Brian Brown did a fantatic job and we say a sincere thanks Brian, for all your efforts.
**********
PPiI
(Pension Parity in Indonesia and AsiaPacific and the world).
was born in 2011-12,
with the intent of being a group you could trust.
Its agenda was FINALLY DESIGNED
to remind us all what that agenda
was all about, and to work to that agenda.
**********
Australia and Canada made up the ICBP.
(The group with the highest frozen membership in numbers).
Also campaigning against the UK Gov’t's frozen pension policy.
So we asked the ICBP,
“Can we join your ICBP group please?”
The answer, word for word was:
“No you can’t. There is only a few of you (bsolute discrimination? yes).
And you have not contributed! (UK bigh court had stated that cost was no excuse for discrimiynation. yes)
"Join CABP or BPiA pay your fees, get a
committeeand that group will “look after” you".
The PPiI members, (are the "committee") and do not pay fees),
the members response was:
“It’s OK we will go it on our own!”
**********
The above paragraph is of the events 12 years ago when PPiI arrived. Much water has passed under the bridge since then. The ICBP has made a number of changes over the years, but not all "the smoke" from those early days of campaigning has dispersed. Sadly the world of the "UK State Pension" is not as secure as it should be.
The number of pension related groups has increased considerably and that in some respect has decreased the chances of Parity for all frozen pensioners and even unfrozen expats.
(let us not forget the 30+ million workers!
they too will become pensioners!
The ever growing numbers of pension related groups, and now websites, is not going to do much for the "parity" we campagn for.
TOO MANY GROUPS AND TOO MANY WEB SITES!
MANY WILL AGREE, AND MANY DISAGREE.
SO WHICH IS RIGHT?
**********
WE HAVE ONE ENEMY. -- -- THE GOV'T, (Gov't, the DWP, THE TREASURY, THE DSS AND, THE FACELESS UNKNOWNS?
(Will it be the party and "others" manipuilting the pre election B/S we wll be showered with?)
WE HAVE ONE AGENDA -- -- CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE UK GOV'Ts FROZEN PENSION POICY, (WHIM). This was quickly amnded by adding, "and NOT supporting uprating going forward".
**********
In more recent times thoughts regarding the State Pension have spread beyond the frozen pension.
THE STATE PENSION HAS MANY ISSUES BEYOND THE FP!!
(COULD BE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 issues!
Such as State Pension Age, consultation, maladministration, welfare status + + + .
SINCE THE 1946 (NIS ACT) AND NOW.
ON THE FP ISSUE. (78 YEARS!),
NOT ONE CAMPAIGNING GROUP HAS PRESSURED THE GOV'T
TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THAT POLICY (WHIM) WHAT SO EVER!
WHILST THE CARSON CASE, (DISCRIMINATION), WAS IN PROGRESS, IN THE E.U. SUPREMCOURT, ONE JUDGE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT AN FP POLICY!
IT WAS AN FP "WHIM"
I FULLY AGREE WITH HIM!
AND IN MY COMENTS OR EMAILS AND POSTS I DO USE THE TERM,
"THE FROZEN PENSION WHIM"
ONE, ( PROBABLY RATHER FRUSTRATED MEMBER), ON FACEBOOK SAID
HE WANTED A MILLION SIGNATURES FOR HIS PETITION!
WHY BE SATISFIED WITH JUST ONE MILLION?
WHY NOT 3, 4, OR MORE MILLION?
YES IT CAN BE DONE!
Over our time of 12 years campaigning, one of theoup issues that has always puzzled me, from day one, is why so much negativity?
After some, "historyical"digging, (that involved UK FP's in Oz). I could only assume a "dictaorial approach" from those requiring "service" from campaigners. I did actually ask on Facebook:-
Many times I see in a
commment on F'book:
"We should work together."
However, they rarely do!
(it has happened to me
a number times!).
not surprising then we are
still FROZEN!
Do also remenber please,
groups are volunteers, not conscripts! (- ST!)
**********
i
WE HAVE MANY GROUPS -- -- (A TOWER OF BABLE ?).
**********
NOTE in a previous draft 23 march we detailed a meeting between Sir R. Gale and the Pariamentary Under- secretary for Works and Pensions, Paul Maynard MP.
"The long awaited light at the end of the tunnel?"
State Pension issues were discussed. no promises and Sir said "dont hold your breath". the
t
**********
*****************
Paul Maynard MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary.(Department for Work and Pensions) recently met with :-
The Rt Hon Sir Roger Gale. Conservative MP Chairman of the APPG. frozen pensions. Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Ways and Means.
It was understood that the UK State Pension issues, including the Frozen Pension,were discussed. That gave some hope to the 500,000 UK pensioners that do have their pensions frozen. (and incidentlly some relief to all 12.4 million UK State pensioners). They were left awaiting with baited breath for further information from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary,and/or Sir Roger Gale.
However, it was Mr hunts budget that came up next and the light at the end of the tunnel flickered for our frozen pensioners, - in fact all pensioners were bemused.
What in the budget was for them?
One report gave a not so subtle answer. " a two finger gesture" it said was what all pensioners got!
what was my response?
"v"from the V V (vulnerable victims)
-et tu Brute !
*******************
Could this be a pre- election joke? - surely not! Somewhat shocked, my thought was this must be a call to arms for all 12.4 million pensiones, including frozen and un-frozen expats, the 30+ million workers that will be the pensiones of the future!
This MUST be the time for ;-
ONE ENEMY, ONE AGENDA AND ONE FIGHTING ARMY OF CAMPAIGNERS FOR SAVING, PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE UK STATE PENSION !!
(Last year, or the year before, I think Sir R, might had mentioned giving up poliitics!
(I had a wicked thought! Lets all email him saying dont give up politics Sir R, Just give up the Party and become Sir R. Gale. MP, the indipedent, save protect and improve the STATE PENSION Party!!)
T
Odd diictionary definitions : RIDING ROUGHSHOD
If you say that someone is riding roughshod over a person or their views, you disapprove of them because they are using their power or authority to do what they want, completely ignoring that person's wishes.
1).International Consortium of Investigative Journalists - ICIJ
https://www.icij.org contact@icij.org.
The ICIJ is a global network of 280 investigative journalists in more than 100 countries who collaborate on in-depth investigative stories.
(they have had a "good go" at the UK Gov't a few times.Worth having a look into).
2) AT FULL FACT https://fullfact.org/ "Full Fact fights bad information".
not so good but Worth having a look into.
I sat and watched, on parliament tv, the chancellor state in debate in the H of C:-
"in reality there is no fund (NIS) we do not think it right that tax payers should pay for uprating FPs". I reported that on Facebook.We then heard from "AT FULL FACT" that my statement was not true. they had checked with the chancellor who confirmed the legislation had been followed correctly as written. No they did not check in Hansard just took the chancellers word.
Now you know why the Gov't introduced legislation that stated that MPs could not be petitioned for telling lies in the House of Commons!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE!
there are many "groups" and individuals that have their own rules.
No problem normally, but should there be an odd rule for campaigning agajnst the Gov'ts State Pension whim?
SHOULD THE STATE PENSION NOT BE PART OF THE WELFARE STATE LEGISLATION?
I am sure that all campaigners will be checking all the polical promises from all political parties and their faceless bosses, advisors?associates?speach writers etc. etc.Reading all the newspapers and political publications hoping upon hope there will be more than just political whims for all campaign issues.
Between now and the election, we are all going to be slightly busier!
(newspapers aint what they used to be!
THE LIFE CERTIFICATE FOR EXPAT PENSIONERS,
LIVES ON, AND ON AND ON - -
I mutter to myself - - “-???? Is it still required? Should it still be required? Why is it still using an outdated system that has not changed for years? As it HAS been used for years!”
(What’s a pension then? Very crudely its money you receive when you retire from work at a pre-determined age.
So where does the money come from? Well it certainly does not come from a money tree growing at the bottom of father Christmas’s garden! We have to go back to the early 1900’s when D.L. George conceived what was probably the most humanitarian Act made for the people.
An act to provide that on retirement, those people have an income that will enable them to SURVIVE on. Note: “survive on, not live on”! (You can survive on bread alone, but you can live, slightly better on bread and butter). DLG idea was to introduce what was as he described as a “National InsuranceScheme".
Wikipedia gives a pretty good definition ofinsurance:-
“Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect against the risk of a contingent or uncertain loss”.
:- not easy to translate but would you agree to; “We” pay the fee,( in the form of contributions from our salary), for the protection from our loss of income, (salary on retirement) by the NI Scheme. Surely The gov’t purely administer for the NI Scheme as it stands?
The gov’t will no doubt attempt to change the scheme.( I think that is already well in hand already in process and question the Consultation process.
So who does pay the fee? We do of course, we contribute from our income, during our working life prior to retirement , NATIONAL INSURANCE contributions, (the fee). The employer also contribute to enhance the available monies in the insurance scheme. The gov’t initially also contributed to the NIS scheme but when the legislated balance for the NIS fund was achieved, ”I (the gov’t) am the boss so we forget the legislation and stop our(the bosses) contributions. (? One rule for you one for us? any consultation with other two in the agreement?).
Is it an equation or guesswork?
(isn't everything DWP does?)
What comes into the equation P = P- (FP). ?. 2 things, ”age”, and whim. Age to receive the pension, of course. This is already brushed aside by the gov’t. the freezing of pension is affected by minor changes in the Pension Act 2014, (freeze all expats uprating and even worse perhaps!). should we be concerned or are you assuming the election will be the “cure all” of all pension problems?
The parliamentary and government protocols have already been changed by this government and what is to come is anybody’s guess. During the Brexit changes the PM referred to changes in our legislation to fit in with EU legislation. She went on to say that the number of changes is high, so to save time she said “we will do it behind closed doors”. If you look at the Pension Act 2014 you will see
“All legislation (excluding originated from the EU)”. Now I have no idea what they means! The act is supposed to be correct. Original (As enacted).
Pensions Act 2014 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 February 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
How do those two statements fit together?
******
My two big concerns are:-
1) communications between groups using Facebook is controlled by Facebook. They own the actual accounts with rules. How many times do you find comments blocked by Facebook? Its USA rules not UK.
Much of the problems I observed related to the earliest campaigning dictatorial tendencies much will go down to, “in my opinion” or “I think!” it does still exist to a lesser degree but it still holds up our campaigning and divert us to personal gender arguments.
It also picks up the gender discrimination which is illegal according to the equality Act. So why do people do it? Empire builders in groups put themselves above those we are campaigning for.
2) Working together. or the lack of it!
surely every group has said."We must work together", or "We must be united". Then never do or rarely do. which promotes the question, "how the hell do you many groups expect to win the campaign?
(I am afraid the very earliest days of campaigning set that in motion).
Its not all bad news!There is a lot of knowledgeable canpaigners out there, and more info is coing out.
(PPiI stil recomend any info given out as part of the campaigns agenda or info mut be proven facts preferably with a hyperlink to enable all to read the full info).