Vince Cable calls for 'protected' pensioners to lose benefits

Pensioners have been protected during the financial crisis and should now lose some of their benefits, Vince Cable has suggested. 

 

The Business Secretary said it is an “anomaly” that all elderly people in the UK currently receive universal benefits from the Government.

He made the comments after Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, called on well-off pensioners to voluntarily pay back their taxpayer-funded benefits.

David Cameron has promised to protect universal benefits for pensioners, including the bus passes, television licenses and winter fuel payments, during this Government.

They are almost the only area of welfare spending to remain unaffected by billions of pounds in spending cuts.

However, senior minister including Mr Duncan Smith have hinted that the Conservatives will go into the next election pledging to cut pensioners’ benefits.