Tuesday 21 April 2015

Why You Should Vote (2)

From the Conservative mainfesto (p65):

continue to increase the State Pension through our triple lock, so it rises by at least 2.5 per
cent, inflation or earnings, whichever is highest

From the Labour manifesto (p48-9)

We will keep the triple-lock so that the state pension increases by inflation, earnings, or 2.5 per 
cent, whichever is highest

From the Libdem manifesto (p49)

Legislate for the Liberal Democrat ‘triple lock’ of increasing the State Pension each year by the highest of earnings growth, prices growth or 2.5%.

From the UKIP manifesto (p20)

The ‘triple lock’ now guarantees the state pension will increase each year by the higher of inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent.

There's no good reason for pensions increasing by a minimum of 2.5%. If wages and inflation are rising by less than that, it's simply a giveaway. And it's being done for one reason and that is that pensioners vote a lot more than young people. Over 65s had a turnout rate approximately 1.5 times higher than 18-24s and approximtely 1.3 times that of 25-34s (section 2.3 of this).

All that parties care about are people who vote. That's how they win. They might pay lip service to the concern of people not voting, but unless they think it's affecting a group that generally votes for them, they aren't going to care too much.

13 comments:

Lola said...

Oh yes there is one very good reason - Mrs L is a pensioner!!!!

Random said...

Don't forget pensioner bonds and er... Property of course.

Steven_L said...

It's in the SNP one too!

Tim Almond said...

Lola,

OK.

Random,

Excellent point.

Steven_L,

To be fair, aren't the SNP promising everyone a pony, though?

Random said...

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/apr/21/children-need-inheritance-buy-homes-half-of-parents-fear
They are trying to solve problem with more of the same problem. Circular logic.

ThomasBHall said...

@ Random- same BS on daily mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3047950/Youngsters-need-inherit-buy-house-Half-parents-fear-children-never-able-property.html

Steven_L said...

To be fair, aren't the SNP promising everyone a pony, though?

No, if you read their manifesto they actually promise jack s**t. They have just managed to make everyone think they are promising everyone a pony.

A K Haart said...

So for pensioners it doesn't matter who gets in. No point voting.

mombers said...

@AKH if only pensioners thought there was no point voting! The Most Selfish Generation

James Higham said...

There's no good reason for pensions increasing by a minimum of 2.5%.

Yes there is - more money for us oldies.

Tim Almond said...

mombers,

The problem is really down to younger people (and that even includes 25-34s) not voting. I don't even know why. 1997 and 2001, young voting fell considerably. I'd like to put it down to poll tax registration but that unwound some years ago.

That said, my retired father complains about many older people "don't they realise they're robbing their grandchildren's futures?".

Random said...

"I'd like to put it down to poll tax registration but that unwound some years ago."
I think that was the point of the poll tax. A poll tax is sort of a negative citizen's income. Also how Tories won 1992.
Poll taxes were used in the Southern United States in a racist fashion.

Mark Wadsworth said...

Oh go on, add the link to the SNP version.