COULD our MP's live on the basic State Pension of £77.50 per week which is linked to inflation, while also letting council taxes increase above the rate of inflation across the UK?

You have to admire politicians who are clever enough to base the length of their term of office on a simple statement like no increases in Income Tax, then starve local government of their funding, encouraging council taxes to increase by alarming proportions forcing pensioners and low earners into excessive tax payments and ultimate grief. Because of this it will be a tax and pensions time bomb at the next General Election.

Link-Age based in Devon and Surrey, having been featured in this paper before, have an ongoing manifesto campaign where we are calling from any political party at the next General Election the following:

l The restoration of the State Pension link to national average earnings.

l A State Pension increased to £200 per week for a single pensioner.

l The abolition of the means test.

l The abolition of the Council Tax.

l The abolition of taxing pensioners on income, as this generation has paid their share of Income Tax through a fifty year working life.

Our manifesto campaign has been ongoing two years while Link-Age has growing support across the UK. There can be no apathy from pensioners who are exempt from paying Council Tax, this manifesto campaign is for the greater good of all British pensioners, self interest must not come into it. Link-Age is non-political.

To make enquiries about receiving a free copy of our manifesto, you can ring (01803) 857 020 after 6.30pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. This manifesto gives people a chance to stand and be counted to the respective constituent MP's direct at the House of Commons before the next General Election, with the backing of myself care of Link-Age.

Michael Thompson

Founder of Link-Age

Flat2

81 South Furzeham Road

Brixham

Devon TQ5 8JF