It is Easter Monday. We are now one month away from a General Election, the results of which could have appalling consequences for the country and our children if it went wrong – particularly if there were to be a subsequent government involving a combination of the SNP and Labour Party. As things stand that is certainly not out of court.
Good news for Beckenham constituents is that from today every single one of them who pays tax will see their personal allowance rise to £10,600 before they give the tax man anything. In addition people are to have much more flexibility over what to do with their life savings in pensions. From now onwards they will not be forced to buy an annuity with their pension pots. They will decide what to do with their pension savings.
The tax and benefit changes taking effect will mean 94 per cent of local working families will be are better off by £17 a month – equivalent to £200 a year. For their part ninety per cent of Beckenham’s pensioners will get £15 more a month or £180 a year more. To most people that is a lot of extra money. It helps almost every single person in constituency; from Keston in the South to Copers Cope in the North and from Elmers End in the West to Bromley Common in the East of it.
Last week Tony Power, my friend and agent, pointed out what the Roman Cicero was reported to have said in 55 BC:
"The Budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance."
Born in 106 BC and executed (everyone seemed to be in those days!) in 53 BC, Cicero is widely considered to have been one of Rome’s greatest thinkers and orators. I guess some who are reading this may have seen this quote before but not me. It seems to be on the button. If he was alive today Cicero would surely be a Tory!