We call on government to stop requiring National Insurance (NI) contributions in order to pay out state pension. We feel this is a degrading, humiliating practice. We suggest that the Full State Pension is paid to all of state pension age.

We believe that for too long, our elderly have been portrayed by media as 'burdens on state'. We think all of the elderly should be entitled to a decent pension, comfortable lifestyle, as most will have already paid into the system for longer than anyone else. We believe any Government should have a responsibility toward our nation's elderly people. In the Victorian era, retirement was often only an option for those who had accrued wealth. Are we regressing back to those Dickensian times? We believe any need for previous NI contributions seems deliberately demeaning and intrusive.