The Tory Party is targeting elderly people for the general election with a number of contentious new laws. First, it was national conscription, and now this. Here’s the full story.
Tory’s Smash and Grab
In a bid to smash and grab as many elderly voters as they can before the election, the Conservatives have just announced a tax relief plan for pensioners.
Feeling the Heat
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is feeling the pressure from the Labour Party, which is currently 30 points ahead of them in the polls, causing him to make drastic decisions.
Targeting the Elderly
As a result, the Prime Minister is making moves that will appeal to elderly voters in order to soften the blow come election day since most young voters will likely be voting for Labour.
£2.4 Billion Tax Break
Sunak recently announced that if the Tories win the election, pensioners will receive a tax break that would cost the country £2.4 billion.
Potential Annual Savings
Starting in the 2025-2026 tax year, pensioners could save £95 each, a figure that is expected to rise to £275 by the end of the decade.
Conservative’s Contentious Election Campaign
The Prime Minister announced the election on May 23rd, and has since named a number of contentious laws that would appeal to the elderly.
Tories Receive Criticism
The proposals are part of the Tory’s election campaign and have received heavy criticism from opposition Parties.
Changing the Lives of Teens
Another proposal was made from Sunak that would see 18-year-olds across the country have an important choice to make.
Military Conscription Confirmed
18-year-olds could either be subject to a form of military conscription, or they could choose to spend each weekend for a year volunteering, if the Tories are voted in.
Sunak “On the Side of Pensioners”
Rishi Sunak himself admitted that the tax break proposal “demonstrates we are on the side of pensioners” in a bid to secure as many votes as possible.
Slamming the Tories’ “Desperate Move”
Labour responded to both the proposals, calling the tax break “desperate” and calling the national conscription a “headline-grabbing gimmick”.
A Media Distraction
Labour believes the outlandish laws are designed to distract the media from other issues, such as the economy.
“Another Desperate Move”
Labour’s Shadow Paymaster General called the tax break idea “another desperate move from a chaotic Tory party torching any remaining facade of its claims to economic credibility”.
An Incentive to Join the Army
Labour slammed the Tory Party for underfunding the armed forces, causing them to force 18-year-olds to act out military service in order to incentivise more sign-ups.
“Hollowed” Armed Forces
According to Labour, the Conservatives have “hollowed out the Armed Forces to their smallest size since Napoleon”.
Tory Wipe Out
Even Tory peers aren’t getting behind the idea, as Lord Goldsmith criticised Sunak’s national service proposal, arguing the Tories face being wiped out.
Damaged Beyond Repair
According to Goldsmith, Sunak “has damaged the Party almost beyond repair and all but guaranteed the majority of his MPs will lose their job next month”.
Defecting to Reform
Tory MP Lucy Allan recently resigned from the Party in favour of right-wing rivals Refom UK, which is creeping up behind the Conservatives in the polls.
Mass Tory Exodus
Allan joins a growing list of Tory MPs who are either resigning or defecting to different Parties ahead of the general election due to a lack of confidence in Sunak.
The Gravity of the Situation
Sunak’s bid to target the elderly shows his understanding of the gravity of the situation, highlighted by his election announcement that was made after months of pressure to call it.
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