[Margaret Pilkington]

And if Gordon Brown had not skimmed the cream off the pension schemes then perhaps that would have helped too. I suppose the investments would have had to be sound to have been any good...and as your observation about the Labour Party's financial accumen...what would have been the chance of that...? The whole of the benefits system is a total shambles. People who have not contributed in any way can draw benefits ad infinitum - there has to be something wrong with that concept. I am all for a welfare state that helps people to get back on their feet.....but I am not happy with supporting the same folk and their dependents for generations to come.