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Not Apathetic

Tell the world why you're not voting - don't let your silence go unheard

They're not voting because...

I am a Sydney-based journalist and an...

I am a Sydney-based journalist and an expatfrom Sussex. My work over the last few years has included interviewing expat Britons who are victims of the UK's long-standing frozen pensions policy. Those expats have included the former London fireman, Arthur Holley, 93, who was decorated for his life-saving rescue work during the Blitz. He also contributed to the mandatory National Insurance Scheme throughout an exceptionally long working life. Yet as a result of the frozen pensions policy his British old age pension has not been increased, in line with cost of living rises, since he and his wife left the UK 20 years ago to join their three children who had all emigrated, one by one, to Australia.

I could cite many similar cases involving WWll veterans, including a Normandy Landing tank commander and a WAAF who served in Churchill's War CabinetRoom as an aircraft plotter.

The blatantly discriminatory frozen pensions policy only penalises expats who retire to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and most other Commonwealth and former Commonwealth countries. It does not adversely affect Britons who retire to EU nations, the USA, Israel, Turkey and most other non-Commonwealth nations.

It's outrageous that anyone who contributed to a mandatory pension scheme should be penalised simply because they choose to retire to, say, Melbourne rather than Majorca.

Frozen pensioners stranded in Zimbabwe on pensions that have not been increased in years are in particularly dire straits because of runaway inflation there.

It is so depressing to see elderly Britons devoting hours of their time, day after day, in writing letters to politicians and editors pleading for the rescindment of the frozen pensions policy. These people should be enjoying their retirement years, instead of campaigning for parity with the vast majority of their fellow Britons.

Please, even if you don't vote, protest on their behalf to your MP and local editor.

I am married to an Australian. I am no longer able to vote in UK elelctions because I have been absent from home for too long. This is despite the fact that I have retained my British nationality. Again, please speak up for Briton's impoverished frozen pensioners. Best wishes, Ava Hubble

written 18th Apr 2005

About Not Apathetic

NotApathetic was built so that people who are planning not to vote in the UK General Election on May 5th can tell the world why. We won't try to persuade you that voting is a good or a bad idea - we're just here to record and share your explanations. Whether ideological, practical or other, any reason will do.

A lot of users would like us to mention that if you spoil your ballot paper, it will be counted. So if you want to record a vote for "none of the above", you can.

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