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| Nick Boles moots pensioner universal benefit rethink | Nick Boles moots pensioner universal benefit rethink |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Wealthy pensioners should stop receiving free bus passes and prescriptions, an ally of the prime minister is expected to argue later. | Wealthy pensioners should stop receiving free bus passes and prescriptions, an ally of the prime minister is expected to argue later. |
| In a speech to the Resolution Foundation think tank, Conservative MP Nick Boles is set to urge an end to universal benefits such as winter fuel allowance and free public transport. | In a speech to the Resolution Foundation think tank, Conservative MP Nick Boles is set to urge an end to universal benefits such as winter fuel allowance and free public transport. |
| Mr Boles wants such benefits to be means tested from 2015. | Mr Boles wants such benefits to be means tested from 2015. |
| David Cameron has said he will not touch the benefits in this parliament. | David Cameron has said he will not touch the benefits in this parliament. |
| However, last month Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith suggested that commitment would be reassessed in the run up to the next election. | However, last month Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith suggested that commitment would be reassessed in the run up to the next election. |
| 'Uncomfortable choices' | 'Uncomfortable choices' |
| Mr Boles is expected to argue that older people must shoulder their fair share of spending cuts, with the introduction of means testing for universal benefits such as free television licences for the over 75s being a viable approach. | Mr Boles is expected to argue that older people must shoulder their fair share of spending cuts, with the introduction of means testing for universal benefits such as free television licences for the over 75s being a viable approach. |
| Ahead of his speech, Mr Boles aired his views on BBC Two's Newsnight programme. | Ahead of his speech, Mr Boles aired his views on BBC Two's Newsnight programme. |
| "We live in an age when we face some really, really uncomfortable choices," he said. | "We live in an age when we face some really, really uncomfortable choices," he said. |
| "Politicians have to be straight with people. None of us want to do any of the stuff that I have talked about. We would all love the ship to go rolling on as it has, people getting better off and the state to go on providing lots of stuff." | "Politicians have to be straight with people. None of us want to do any of the stuff that I have talked about. We would all love the ship to go rolling on as it has, people getting better off and the state to go on providing lots of stuff." |
| Mr Boles said it was "not possible" and "not honest" to believe that the current approach to benefits was sustainable where elderly people were concerned. | Mr Boles said it was "not possible" and "not honest" to believe that the current approach to benefits was sustainable where elderly people were concerned. |
| Geraldine Bedell, editor of Gransnet - a magazine for grandparents - said the problem with such an approach arises concerning the "cut off" point when determining eligibility for benefits. | Geraldine Bedell, editor of Gransnet - a magazine for grandparents - said the problem with such an approach arises concerning the "cut off" point when determining eligibility for benefits. |
| Finding savings | Finding savings |
| "We know that whenever you have means testing you get a cliff edge and very often the wrong people fall off the cliff," she said. | "We know that whenever you have means testing you get a cliff edge and very often the wrong people fall off the cliff," she said. |
| In a speech to the independent think tank later, Mr Boles is expected to say there is a need to "find further savings from the welfare budget" in order to "achieve stability in our public finances and make crucial investments in improving productivity and competitiveness". | In a speech to the independent think tank later, Mr Boles is expected to say there is a need to "find further savings from the welfare budget" in order to "achieve stability in our public finances and make crucial investments in improving productivity and competitiveness". |
| "If we are going to protect spending on pensions - as we should - equity between the generations requires that these cuts cannot only fall on adults of working age," he will say. | "If we are going to protect spending on pensions - as we should - equity between the generations requires that these cuts cannot only fall on adults of working age," he will say. |
| Mr Boles is also expected to say: "We need to acknowledge now that we will not be able to continue the protection of these other benefits for better-off pensioners after 2015." | Mr Boles is also expected to say: "We need to acknowledge now that we will not be able to continue the protection of these other benefits for better-off pensioners after 2015." |
| Should universal benefits be means tested for pensioners? Send us your views using the form below. |