Unfair burden on tax-paying public

However, I would go further, given the vast differences in the pensions of those in the boardroom and those on the shopfloor.

By highlighting that the average level of public sector pensions is comparatively low, averaging only around 70 per week, it masks the fact that half of these pensions are greater than this figure and indeed, some are the substantial "gold-plated pensions" of high earners.

It is the unfair burden of these that the coalition government is seeking to address.

Indeed, taxpayers who work in the private sector are actually funding these public sector pensions as well as having to fund their own pension provision, however meagre!

Taxpayers who work in the private sector have seen the level of their potential pensions drastically reduced at the same time as they are being asked to fund the "gold-plated pensions" of high-earners in the public sector.

For the past 13 years, Labour failed to address the matter of affordability and should have addressed excessive pensions in both the public and private sectors by capping.

Gordon Brown inherited an economy where the pension provision for workers was the envy of the world and within six weeks of taking of taking office, virtually destroyed it.

As a result, trouble is being stored up for the future, with millions who will be totally reliant on the state to look after them in retirement due to the inadequacy of their pensions.

Under Labour, the rich got richer and the gap between the poorest and richest in our society grew considerably wider.

Most of us really are in it together, however the nouveau riche can weather the storm with the reserves they built up under a Labour government.

Anyone for Champagne socialism? I don't think so!

Nick Wiltshire

leader of LibDem Group on Littlehampton Town Council

Kendal Close

Littlehampton

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