David Cameron has pledged to protect universal benefits for pensioners once again if the Conservatives win the upcoming general election in May.
The prime minister promised not to introduce means testing for pensioner benefits such as free bus passes, subsidised TV licenses, and the winter fuel allowance.
Cameron said:
“In 2010, I looked down the barrel of the camera and made a clear commitment to the British people that I would keep these things.
“And that wasn’t a commitment for five years – it was a commitment for as long as I am prime minister.”
The Conservative party has recently come under fire for its policies that appear to unfairly favour the elderly, protecting pensioner services and privileges, while working families and young people are having their benefits slashed or removed completely.
Conservative support is strongest with those over the age of 65, and commitments such as these offered by the prime minister are designed to shore up support from that demographic, with the costs of the policies born predominantly by cutting services to the young, where Conservative support is weakest.
Cameron claims that offering the elderly free services and investment opportunities unavailable to those funding the state are not an “unnecessary luxury”, despite them being offered to all pensioners with no means testing.
