[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by JU_88

Possibly yes, But it will have to go eventually as its not sustainable, given our demographics. more than quarter of the governments budget goes on social protection - most of that being state pension, and it will keep growing for the foreseeable future. I'm betting they will start by raising the bar as to the retirement age and earnings threshold. So less people will qualify, they will probably try to transition it, e.g encouraging the next generation to set up private pension schemes etc. If they remove it slowly enough, few will complain. - That would be the Tory way and anyway -quiet and sneaky dismantling, lots of: 'shh oh look there's something more interesting over there!'.
The Labour version would be keep it going, prop it up with borrowing and continued mass immigration until it all implodes (likely during a major economic /sovereign debt crisis where our grandchildren / children of immigrants will decide they've had enough.)

Just for the benefit of any members following this 'pension' part of the discussion.

1995 - women's state pension age to be equalised
Following pressure from Europe, the Conservative Government was forced to announce plans to equalise state pension age for men and women. The timetable was the most relaxed possible and would raise pension age for women to 65 slowly from April 2010 to April 2020.

2007 - further rises in pension age to 66, 67, and then 68 introduced
The Labour Government passed a new law to raise state pension age to 66 between April 2024 and April 2026, then to 67 between April 2034 and April 2036 and to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046.

http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/...PA_history.htm