- Tue Sep 10, 2024 2:56 pm
#75797
When the winter fuel allowance was first introduced, it was given to everybody over 60. A few years later my brother in law became entitled to it, at the time he was heading up a team at Oxford University producing NHS statistics for the department of health, I don't know what his salary was, but he was far from poor. He used to donate the money to his cash strapped youngest daughter who, unlike him, actually needed the money and yet was being taxed to help pay her Dad's winter fuel allowance.
Now of course my brother in law is a pensioner. He recently told me that he reckons he has more expendable income than he ever had when he was working. His mortgage is ancient history, his children are long since off the payroll, he has no commuting or work clothing costs, he lives in a well insulated house with solar panels so his fuel bills are small. But the Tories, Corbyn, some Union leaders and (apparently) about 50 Labour MPs think it's just that people who can't afford their own heating should be made to pay for his.
Now of course my brother in law is a pensioner. He recently told me that he reckons he has more expendable income than he ever had when he was working. His mortgage is ancient history, his children are long since off the payroll, he has no commuting or work clothing costs, he lives in a well insulated house with solar panels so his fuel bills are small. But the Tories, Corbyn, some Union leaders and (apparently) about 50 Labour MPs think it's just that people who can't afford their own heating should be made to pay for his.
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