Polly Toynbee suggests that her lucky generation of homeowners with work pensions should be targeted to provide much-needed assistance for those less fortunate (Pensioner poverty is at a new high – so why are older people still voting Tory?, 18 March). As someone who relies on a work pension (and who has never voted Tory), might I point out that I and millions of others pay tax on this pension in the same way as I have done all my adult life.
Also, like many people in a similar situation, I use this modest pension to help support adult children who are either forced to rent privately or are required to pay an arm and a leg to get on the property ladder.
Unfortunately, Toynbee appears to be falling into the HMRC trap of hitting a captive audience (AKA shooting fish in a barrel) while properly redistributive wealth taxes, windfall taxes and accountable public control of energy and infrastructure remain comfortably bedded in their “too difficult” boxes.
Ian Fraser
Newtown, Powys
• Polly Toynbee wonders “how to lever some of the unearned wealth out of my lucky generation of homeowners with old-fashioned work pensions and redistribute it … ” Many better-off pensioners will argue that they worked hard all their lives and contributed to a pension fund, so they are entitled to a comfortable old age.
There is probably little to be gained from responding that millions of people, particularly women, also worked hard all their lives in low-wage jobs but had no possibility of a work pension or house purchase. But it’s not necessary to appeal to altruism. It’s in our own interest as we get older to pay a bit more tax if we can afford it, given our increasing reliance on public services. It would take some of the burden off our children and grandchildren and leave more of the tax take for poverty relief.
There is no magic money tree, nor is there a magic doctor tree. If we want to grow more doctors, we must invest more in education and health, and better-off pensioners need to chip in.
Janet Dobson
York
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