We must rethink society to be fair to all age groups

http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2015/jul/19/big-issue-young-people-finance

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The recent budget contained financial measures that clearly favour older people (“UK ‘fails its young’ as gulf between generations grows”, News). But they were not the first from this or previous governments. The tensions between generations have become increasingly strained over the past decade, as reflected by the Intergenerational Foundation’s fairness index.

The social contract between older and young people needs to be recast. Many older people are very worried about the future of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And many young people feel they have been robbed of life chances that previous generations took for granted.

Building a society for all ages requires a new approach, giving everyone the chance to work and somewhere decent to live and supporting families with their caring responsibilities. Underpinning action on homes, care and jobs should be fair taxation, shifting the balance from income to wealth and assets. Social integration also requires communities to explore new ways that local facilities, spaces and homes can be shared by young and old alike.

Stephen Burke

Director, United for All Ages

Happisburgh, Norfolk

I was fortunate enough to turn 18 two months before 7 May this year and so I am proud to state I am one of the 58% of young people who cast their vote in the general election. However, it pains me to say that I am now one of the millions of people who will be worse off, thanks to George Osborne’s summer budget.

It appears, after the first Conservative budget in 19 years, that it is families and young people who are to be hit the hardest, while big corporations are protected. For young people, there are several policies within the budget that will make the next five years appear far gloomier than they should. The scrapping of university maintenance grants (replacing them with loans) will drag the poorest of students into a bigger pit of debt; the removal of housing benefit for 18- to 21-year-olds makes it even harder for young adults to move out and pay rent (especially in extortionate Hertfordshire!); and the headline-grabbing “national living wage” will not even apply to under-25s, leaving graduates, school leavers and even young parents without a much-needed wage boost and financially at a huge disadvantage.

The other serious losers of this budget are working parents. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has stated that 13 million families will lose £260 a year due to Osborne’s changes to the benefits and tax system. Even more shockingly, around 3 million families will lose out on average £1,000 a year, thanks to harsh amendments to the tax credit system. Just think what losing £1,000 would mean to a family of four; it could wipe out half a year’s grocery shopping, at least.

Luke Sills

Kings Langley, Herts

At 72, I am too old to be a baby boomer, but only just, and did enjoy the benefits of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Jobs were easy to get, clothes were cheap and you could rent a room for well under £10 a week.

What our critics overlook is that from the age of 40 we suffered from ageism. At 50, I was made redundant and applied for thousands of jobs. Most recruiters’ first question was: “How old are you?”  I tried to persuade them that they should go by my abilities, not my age, but they wouldn’t have it.  

I am extremely grateful for my pension, my only source of income. Without it, I’d starve. I’m extremely lucky, though, compared with young people deprived of university places, apprenticeships, jobs and a home of their own. But the fact that opportunities are wrenched from them is not my fault, nor the fault of the baby boomers. Credit where credit’s due – and blame too, please. US banks caused the recession, which spread to the UK. Overpaid CEOs of failed banks with their obscene bonuses and golden handshakes are the real culprits, not the baby boomers.

Name and address supplied