Bungling Badenoch?

Kemi Badenoch has been described by the Liberal Democrats as "Bungling Badenoch". Their Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper, said the above about the Tory leader questioning the fact that the so-called "Triple Lock" pension should be means tested. In other words, if you are a millionaire retiree why should you even get a state pension? The state pension should go to those who are ordinary OAPS. Ms. Badenoch does have a point. A means- tested pension would, in theory, sort the wheat from the chaff. In theory, it would ensure the money goes to those who really need it. When Labour stopped the winter fuel payment for older people Kemi Badenoch seemed to agree. She went on record as saying: "Millionaires should not get the winter fuel payment. Only those on the breadline". However, she described Rachel Reeves stopping the winter fuel payment for all pensioners unless they were on Pension Credit as extreme. In other words, Reeves had targetted pensioners just about surviving.

The stopping of winter fuel payments for older people caused a storm. A track even made it to number 1 regarding this. Over Christmas, a reworking of Mud's (a 70's band) "It'll Be Lonely This Christmas" sang in an Elvis refrain. Instead, the track still sang in an Elvis tone and was called "It'll Be Freezing This Christmas". Of course, no one wants to see elderly people freezing. The government wants to get many elderly people on Pension Credit. This would top up their income in theory, however, for many pensioners it's not that simple.

Labour said: "Kemi Badenoch has put pensioners on notice. She's going to cut your state pension". In another statement, a Labour spokesperson said: "Tories haven't listened or learned".

The triple lock, which ties state pension increases to the highest rate of inflation and average earnings. It has contributed to a forecasted pensioner benefit spending and soared to £138 billion. A total of £125 billion is expected to be spent on state pensions alone.

Mel Stride Shadow Shadow Chancellor caused a few raised eyebrows when he said the triple lock pension as it is now is "Unsustainable".

The retirement age once upon a time was 60 for women and 65 for men. However, today the pension is equalised between the sexes at 66. However, in line with people living longer, the retirement age will rise from 6 May, in 2026. I can see why the government wants to keep raising the pension, however, some may never see their retirement age at this rate. Some older people like to keep working and if that's what they want fair enough. Conversely, others will want to retire. They will not want to keep working as if that is their only goal in life. Some will want to enjoy their retirement and do the things they could not do when at work.

In society today we are in a conundrum. We are all working more than ever to pay the bills, keep the lights on and put food on the table. There is more stress and mental illness and indeed, physical illness than there ever. The way we live today has a lot to do with it. A fast-paced, noisy world, where everyone and everything is screaming for our attention. Is it any wonder things are going wrong in society?

The world of work, pensions, and what we do between those things must change. We need to change to a society where work is encouraged but a shorter working week should be created. People should have time to spend time alone, with their families, friends, and hobbies. UBI should be brought in but how you would fund that is debatable but doable.