WHAT have you got to complain about? If you can manage to scrape along and keep yourself warm in winter that's all you need when you get older, you've had your life, it's time you knuckle down to a life of sitting at home.

It seems that's what the majority of Members of Parliament (of all parties) think and in particular the MPs that were around 20 years go.

Back in 1980 the link between pensions and average earnings was cut. If this had not taken place then today a single pension would be £97.45 instead of £67.50 and pensioners today would not have received a paltry increase of only 75 pence this year. Even back in 1980 MPs should have realised that if you're 18 or 80 it costs the same to buy a loaf of bread, to pay your council tax, to switch on an electric light, to pay your water rates, need I go on?

We are today faced with the action of the Machiavellian politicians of 20 years ago.

Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed, but not the cold, calculating MPs of 1980. On April 3 this year MPs had the chance to redeem themselves of the deceit and dishonesty of their predecessors when the Commons voted on the restoration of the link of pensions to earnings. 75 MPs voted for the restoration with 240 against it.

The NI Pension is not a handout. People pay for it while they are working. It takes 40 or more years of paying into the scheme to qualify for the basic pension. The stereotype of granny sitting knitting and granddad with his stick hobbling along to the pub to sit with his mates reminiscing have long gone. The fact is that most old people today lead a reasonable active life long after they retire.

Up and down the country political pressure is being bought to bear on MPs. They cannot be left to ride roughshod over this older generation with makeshift methods of trying to solve the problem; it will not go away. Pensioners will not stand for it and MPs should know that the voting power of this group is increasing year by year.

We will not accept them trotting out excuses why they voted as they did on April 3.

FRED KALER, Columbine Grove, Evesham.