Not true

[EternalOptimist]

There is quite a difference in public sector pensions. Teachers and some other lowly sorts have actually contributed 6% rising to 9% while some top grade bastard civil servants have paid nothing.

Are there teachers contributing to a pension pot, or is the pension paid out if general taxation ?

[xoggoth]

There is quite a difference in public sector pensions. Teachers and some other lowly sorts have actually contributed 6% rising to 9% while some top grade bastard civil servants have paid nothing.

[ace00]

....

The problem is not the pensions, and to suggest that it is is miserly and mean-spirited. The problem is the funding method, and I do not see anyone fixing that soon.

No it is the pensions. Final salary pensions were conceived at a time when life expectancy was about 65-68. You see what they did there? Now it's hi 70's. Also a lot of nice early retirement options were tacked on after.
The public sector pension level is unacceptable and unsustainable. It will have to be reduced (not by labour) , there is no serious debate on that point. While we wait for politicians to find a backbone, brain, sense of responsibility (could take a while) we, well actually, you will be hit with some serious tax rises to cover the shortfall.

[TimberWolf]

Public pensions are unsustainable..... end of story.

I concur with the first part, but not the second. Surely there will be a lot more to the story?

[Cyberman]

There is an easy way to get a public sector pension for yourself. Can you guess what it is?

The problem is not the pensions, and to suggest that it is is miserly and mean-spirited. The problem is the funding method, and I do not see anyone fixing that soon.

Public pensions are unsustainable..... end of story.

[expat]

We need a government that will face up to the unions. Only one party would ever do that, and yes it is the Tories, and we know that they have done that in the past.
Labour will not upset them because most of their funding comes from union sources, and in fact they actually backed down on retirement ages. Consequently, private sector employees have to work five years longer to retirement than those in the public sector.

There is an easy way to get a public sector pension for yourself. Can you guess what it is?

The problem is not the pensions, and to suggest that it is is miserly and mean-spirited. The problem is the funding method, and I do not see anyone fixing that soon.

[Cyberman]

Right. A change of government to one that does not show intertia in the face of the ticking pensions timebomb. And that would be ?

(I could give you a clue as to who would be no better)

We need a government that will face up to the unions. Only one party would ever do that, and yes it is the Tories, and we know that they have done that in the past.
Labour will not upset them because most of their funding comes from union sources, and in fact they actually backed down on retirement ages. Consequently, private sector employees have to work five years longer to retirement than those in the public sector.

[expat]

It's not looking healthy for the taxpayer, because the majority of it is unfunded and payable out of our future taxes. We need a change of government and action, because Labour have only shown inertia on what is a ticking timebomb.

Right. A change of government to one that does not show intertia in the face of the ticking pensions timebomb. And that would be ?

(I could give you a clue as to who would be no better)

[Cyberman]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...1trillion.html




Totally untrue. £17,000 has not been snatched from every private pension pot. For some people, the amount taken is actually much higher.

I really cannot abide sloppy journalism.

Still, the public pension pot is looking very healthy. And that's what matters.

It's not looking healthy for the taxpayer, because the majority of it is unfunded and payable out of our future taxes. We need a change of government and action, because Labour have only shown inertia on what is a ticking timebomb.

[Gordon Brown]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...1trillion.html

Gordon Brown's tax raid on pension funds has snatched £17,000 from every worker's retirement pot, research says today.

Yet the value of public sector schemes - funded by taxpayers - has soared to an astonishing £1trillion.

Totally untrue. £17,000 has not been snatched from every private pension pot. For some people, the amount taken is actually much higher.

I really cannot abide sloppy journalism.

Still, the public pension pot is looking very healthy. And that's what matters.