This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18778359#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rich elderly should lose benefits, says David Cameron ally | Rich elderly should lose benefits, says David Cameron ally |
| (40 minutes 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, 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, Conservative MP Nick Boles is set to urge an end to universal benefits such as winter fuel allowance and free public transport. |
| He wants such benefits to be means-tested after the next general election, in 2015. | He wants such benefits to be means-tested after the next general election, in 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 election. | However, last month Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith suggested that commitment would be reassessed in the run-up to the election. |
| 'Uncomfortable choices' | 'Uncomfortable choices' |
| At an event organised by the Resolution Foundation think-tank, Mr Boles is expected to argue that older people must shoulder their fair share of spending cuts. | At an event organised by the Resolution Foundation think-tank, Mr Boles is expected to argue that older people must shoulder their fair share of spending cuts. |
| He will suggest the introduction of means testing for universal benefits such as free television licences for the over-75s is a viable approach. | He will suggest the introduction of means testing for universal benefits such as free television licences for the over-75s is a viable approach. |
| Mr Boles will describe a need to "find further savings from the welfare budget" to "achieve stability in our public finances and make crucial investments in improving productivity and competitiveness". | Mr Boles will describe a need to "find further savings from the welfare budget" 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." |
| Ahead of his speech, Mr Boles told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We live in an age when we face some really, really uncomfortable choices. | Ahead of his speech, Mr Boles told BBC Two's Newsnight: "We live in an age when we face some really, really uncomfortable choices. |
| "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 was in deciding the "cut-off" point when determining eligibility for benefits. | Geraldine Bedell, editor of Gransnet - a magazine for grandparents - said the problem was in deciding the "cut-off" point when determining eligibility for benefits. |
| "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. |