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  mmmm..... I am not going to pick up on every point since I last looked in but I have to pick up on this rubbish that the State pension should be tax-free.
  
  Interesting that Reg and Collette want to give the better off pensioners a tax break because that is what they are saying.
  
  If you are over 65 you have a personal tax allowance of £10,500 per annum (£10,660 over 75) as long as your total taxable income is not over ££25,400 pa.
  
  So none of the worse-off pensioners get to pay any tax at all who have only the basic state pension £5587.40 pa, or indeed any State Second Pension top-up. In fact, as you can see, you would need a decent sized private pension to fall into the basic rate tax bracket.
  
  Remember also - over 65 you pay tax at 20p and no NI so even the tax paid is relatively small on better off pensioners. The big exception are those with taxable income between £25,401 and £30,190 who are taxed at an effective rate of 30p.
  
  So yes - it is interesting that you want to help better off pensioners.
  
  Personally I would prefer the tax free allowance to be increased a lot further than current proposals so it helps people working and on a lower wage.

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