Pensioners here get a raw deal. With the state pension already among the lowest in Europe, the age at which one is entitled to it has been made higher. On a local level, we’ve seen Abbots Activity Centre become no longer the responsibility of the council, with the risks to its future this involves, and plans to close sheltered accommodation at Joyce Brooks House and Abbeygate House, with cost again cited as the reason.

The Government will tell you cuts are about economics.

But it doesn’t want you to know the truth.

After the Second World War, when the national debt in real terms was much higher, we built our NHS, our welfare state and millions of council “homes for heroes”.

The Eton old boys leading our country are driven not by economics, but by a political dogma. They want to destroy the better society created after the war.

So, when they and their rich, friendly newspaper owners, such as Rupert Murdoch, talk about goldplated public sector pensions again, don’t believe the propaganda.

The Government wants public sector workers – including nurses, binmen, teachers and firefighters – to pay more, get less and work longer, too. These are schemes people have been paying into for years, and the goalposts are then moved So, building towards the TUC Pensions Day of Action on November 30, Colchester Against the Cuts will this Saturday, November 12, be supporting the Essex-wide demonstration in Chelmsford: Fair Pensions for All – Defend Public Services.

To join us, we will be meeting in front of the Colchester North Station main ticket office at 11.25am, to travel down on the 11.42 service. If you are making your own way, join us in Chelmsford’s Tindal Square at 1pm.

Andy Abbott
Colchester Against the Cuts
Maidenburgh Street
Colchester