This is not a terribly complex problem – abolish MP’s pensions! These people, who are so bright that they see fit to rule the rest of us, should have no problem in setting up a suitable private pension scheme!

This current system of inflation proofed pensions in the public sector is an insult to the hardworking taxpayer. Pull their snouts out of the trough and let them fend for themselves.

"Mr. Brown" indeed. Broon is finished. Hootsmon journos should cut the pretence.

Another review that'll be ignored.

Brown should also order a review of expenses. Jacqui Smith claims that the room she stays in at her sisters house is her main residence, so that she can claim thousands in taxpayers money to subsidise her "second" home. The "second" home is her big hoose in her constituency where her husband and kids live!!!! This is blatant abuse of the system and should be shouted from the rooftops by the tories if they want to discredit the government.

Typical Brown. Bread and circuses while he brings the country to its knees. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the cost to the country every year of providing pensions is a staggering £169b. That's £169,000,000,000.

more babbling from the eejit,who believes a word that comes out of his mouth

WE ARE DOOMED WITH BROON ,DOOOMED

Not before time!

Not so long ago it was the expectation of many people that they would retire with a pension based on their final salary and receive a lump sum. The dream of a comfortable and secure retirement kept many people going, especially in their later years at work, and this dream was a reality until 1997 when Gordon Brown became UK Chancellor.

Virtually his first act was to remove tax credits on the income of pension funds which turned out to be just one of his many stealth taxes. This change in the law raised around £5 billion for the Treasury but in the honeymoon period of the New Labour UK government it raised barely a ripple of protest. However the chickens have now come home to roost. The compounded effect of this tax change is such that it is now estimated to have cost UK pension funds in the region of £175 billion.

This is the main reason why it has become more difficult for companies to operate final salary pension schemes and why so few now remain open to new entrants.

Instead of final salary schemes many companies have now moved to money purchase schemes which like personal pension plans depend on the state of the stock market and the level of interest rates. The current financial crisis has reduced fund values and returns which leaves many prospective pensioners facing an uncertain future to add to their concerns about job security.

None of these reforms will take place. Or if they do watch the timing which will be following Labour's ejection from office.

Sometimes the Chinese seem to have the correct attitude to public disgrace.

If you think the Honourable trough souters will accept any interferance with their pension perks, then you are dead wrong, thats like turkey's looking forward to Christmas.

MPs pensions and perks should be decided by an independant body, not by the said MPs, it needs to be decided "honestly".

4 TheScotsman, Scottish Borders 14/02/2009 03:20:39
Whilst I totally agree with your sentiments I think it is wishful thinking to imagine that the Tory’s would shout too loud – People in glass houses come too mind!
As I said in my previous comment (1) Abolish MP’s pensions – let them make their own private arrangements. They then might look a bit more sympathetically at the State Pension. Then they can have a really hard look at the pension arrangements for Civil servants – in particular the first Division lot.