Pensioners miss out

Published: 26 November, 2010

• I WAS interested to read Terry Messenger’s report on households in Islington who will lose money in the government spending cuts (Coalition spending axe ‘means £4,000 cuts for every home’, November 19). 

What did concern me as secretary of Islington Pensioners Forum were the comments about the government’s plans to increase the state pension to £140 a week. This is certainly questionable for the majority, as those who attended the National Pensioners’ Rally in Westminster five weeks ago will know. 

The Tribune’s Peter Gruner, who covered the rally, spoke to the Department of Works and Pensions to find out who would be eligible for the £140 pension. Not surprisingly, he discovered that it will apply only to new pensioners. 

JOHN WORKER 
Secretary, Islington Pensioners Forum