Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004 Blair wants to leave his mark on history - looks more like a stain to me. Peter Thorndyke, Diss, Norfolk - Daily Mail, May 23, 2005 I know I'm me - why do I need an ID card? "Sorry, officers, I don't have an ID card. I never applied for one. It seemed a bit steep at 300 quid. I do have my free passport, my driving licence and my London freedom travel pass, each with my photograph. I have my NHS medical card, with its lengthy number, given me at birth, my RAF service book with my Armed Forces number, and a chit authorising me to wear a few gongs -including a General Service Medal with Malaya bar, for fighting communist terrorists on behalf of my country, or so they told me. "I've also got various credit cards and store cards, all with my signature on the back, generally good for buying the everyday requrements for life as well as the odd luxury. If you decide to arrest me, I suppose I'll have to be photographed and given another number, besides my PINs. "I'm afraid I haven't got a pension book; it was taken away." "By thieves, sir?" "No ... well, not exactly. By the Government. By the way, may I see your warrant cards please, gentlemen?" Oh dear, they've disappeared. E. Harry Gumer, Romford, ESSEX - Daily Mail, June 1, 2005 NO means NO When does NO mean MAYBE? When it's not the answeer the EU wants. With the courageous French NON resounding in their ears, shabby, undemocratic self-interested leaders of Europe propose ignoring the part of their precious constitution that requires ratification by all members and continuing without one of the biggest founder members to prevent derailing the gravy train. As in Ireland, they refuse to accept any NO votes, ignoring the will of the people, and re-stage votes until they can engineer the 'correct' answer. Sadly, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dances to their tune like a puppet on a string. With tactics such as these, how can anyone really believe the EU has our interests at heart. Letter from Steve Penny, Kingsnorth, Kent - Daily Mail, June1, 2005 Surely the French result makes the £1million the EU recently spent on a treaty signing ceremony seem a trifle premature and extravagant. Letter from Keith Wiseman, Bury, Lancs. - Daily Mail, June1, 2005

May 11, 2005 (741 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,610 US - 88 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media 

May 31, 2005 (761 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,657 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

June 3 , 2005 (765 days since war ended)

Death Toll: 1,670 US - 89 UK - >6,164? Iraqi - >17,300 civilians - 25 media

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

Britain has traditionally been one of the biggest net contributors to the EU because we do not get as much money back from Brussels in farm and regional subsidies as our rivals. According to Treasury figures, between 1995-2002, Britain's average contribution taking the rebate into account, was £2.6billion, or £43.55 per head of population. The French - the biggest recipient of farm subsidies - contributed £1billion a year or £16.08 per head of their population.

STOP PRESS

The growing gap between private and state pensions is bound to end in tears

PENSIONS: THE GREAT DIVIDE

State workers have the best retirement plans

By Sean Poulter - Consumer Affairs Correspondent - Daily Mail, June 14, 2005

Taxpayers face a colossal £690billion bill to fund the lucrative pensions of public sector workers. It will mean a £300 increase in annual tax bills for every household over the next three decades.

A nation split by its pensions Comment - Daily Mail, June 14, 2005 For generations our pension system has been the envy of the world, providing most of our citizens, whether working for the state or the private sector with generous payments linked to final salaries. Then came the £5billion annual stealth tax on pension funds, followed by the stock market crash, which had a devastating effect on the retirement incomes of those working for the private sector. No such problems faced those working for the state, whose pensions are guaranteed and paid for by taxpayers. Now comes proof that in retirement we will now be split into two nations. According to the Government actuary, only 15% of those working for private companies have pensions linked to their final salary - while 90% of those in the public sector do. And no group has been more adept at feathering its nest than MPs. They get a far better deal than those working in private business and have their fund propped up by £10million from taxpayers. Of course in the past index-linked pensions used to compensate public employees for a low salary - and that still applies to people like nurses and teachers. But there are many bureaucrats whose salaries at least match those in business - yet they will receive a guaranteed pension despite facing none of the risks of working in the private sector. Make no mistake. When those who have worked in companies see that they have become second class citizens in their old age to their public sector counterparts, they will be increasingly bitter. And their resentment will be all the greater because their children will have to pay higher taxes to fund a state pension bill that has already climbed to £690million and is certain to rise rapidly. Such sums are unsustainable. The private sector cannot create the wealth to foot this bill. Ministers waiting for the Turner Report into pensions this autumn have already said they won't act for at least four years. Such pusillanimity is unforgivable. The Government must address this problem urgently.

Final-salary schemes, deemed the gold standard of retirement packages, have been abandoned by hundreds of private firms as simply too expensive to fund. But they are still available to 90% of local and national government employees, generating huge and rising bills. The professions include teachers, nurses, doctors, police and firemen - along with a growing army of bureaucrats.

The number of public servants enrolled in the schemes has risen from 4.7 million to 5.5 million in the last five years, according to figures from the Government Actuary's Department. By contrast, the number of private sector workers who enjoy schemes has fallen from 4.6nillion to 3.6million. Final salary schemes guarantee an inflation-proof retirement income based on a percentage of annual earnings and length of service.

The schemes worked well for private companies when the stock market was booming; investments were generating billions. But following global stock market collapse they became a noose around their neck. Even today, despite a huge increase in contributions from companies and individuals, some 90% of private sector final salary schemes are in the red to the tune of a total £130billion.

Many firms have now switched to defined contribution schemes for new staff, where the pension pot is based entirely on how much is paid in and how it is invested. Generally these schemes are far less generous or require staff to pay in much larger sums.

Pension funds were further depleted by Gordon Brown's tax raid on share dividends in 1997. The Chancellor removed a vital tax break which cost private sector schemes £5billion a year.

In face of all this, and with an ageing population intensifying pressure on pension funds, public sector schemes have been maintained, guaranteeing retirement at 60 with generous benefits for most civil servants. It is not the only area in which Labour has rewarded the public sector. Under its tenure, the average pay for a public sector chief executive has gone beyond the £100,000 per year barrier. City Council chiefs can now expect to earn up to £200,000 a year.

At the same time, controversial highly-paid jobs have been created. Borough councils now offer up to £90,000 for titles such as 'director of cultural change'.

The public sector pensions bill currently running at £16billion a year. This is set to rise by 50%, excluding inflation, over the next 30 years. That increase means higher taxes will be needed every year to ensure Government staff enjoy a comfortable retirement. By 2035, the extra tax would equate to just over £300 per household, in today's money.

The total future liability, of course is massively higher. Actuaries Watson Wyatt put the cost of funding pensions for all those public sector workers currently paying into schemes at £690billion. Partner StephenYeo said: "The £690billion is the 'black hole ' - the total amount that will have to be found from the public purse. "It is important that these costs are accurately identified and a light is shone on them. The only way we can continue to pay these final salary schemes would be to have increases in taxation or make savings in other areas. The one thing that is going to put pressure on the Government is the fact that private sector pension schemes are rapidly becoming less generous.

"Five years ago the public sector schemes looked normal. But today they stand out like a lighthouse in a gale. There is resentment among the general working population who are being told they will have to work longer and save more whereas government employees are getting a better deal. There is a feeling that this is not fair. There's a divide opening in society between those in the public sector on final salary schemes who will get an adequate pension, and the rest."

Research published today by the Prudential suggests workers aged 30 will need to work until they are 74 unless they dramatically increase their saving levels or pension contributions. New Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett, is investigating ways to encourage people to save more for retirement and Pensions Commission chaired by Adair Turner is expected to give its recommendations in the autumn.

Currently, the average saving level is just £62 a month. The Prudential said this would have to go up to around £400 to generate a pension equivalent to two-thirds of the salary by the age of 65. Almost £10million of taxpayers' money was pumped into propping up MPs pensions last year, a report revealed yesterday. The cash had to be put in after a ruling by the Government Actuary trebled the amount the State was obliged to contribute to the politician's retirement nest eggs

A report shows the Treasury contributed £9.8million to the MPs fund - £6million more than the previous year.

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