Voices: ‘Not a handout’: Readers reject plans for rich pensioners to trade state pension for OBE
Independent readers have largely rejected a proposal to let wealthy pensioners give up three years of state pension payments in return for an OBE. They argued that the pension is earned through decades of national insurance contributions, rather than a handout, and said linking honours to financial sacrifice could undermine the honours system.
The idea came from Compass, a Labour-aligned pressure group, which presented it as a voluntary way to reduce pressure on public finances under prime minister Andy Burnham. Commenters estimated that three years of pension would be worth roughly £36,000 to £38,000, compared the proposal to cash-for-honours, and suggested savings should instead come from tackling fraud or changing wider pension arrangements.
- Readers say the state pension is earned, not charity.
- OBE-for-pension proposals prompted cash-for-honours comparisons.
- Commenters urged savings elsewhere in public spending.
New here? Start with this
The state pension is a regular payment from the government for people who have reached state pension age. It is mainly based on a person’s record of National Insurance contributions, which are payments made through work or certain benefits over many years.
An OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, is an honour awarded to people judged to have made a significant contribution in areas such as public service, charity, business or the arts. Honours are normally decided through a nomination and assessment process, then approved by the monarch.
The proposal raises wider questions about how state pensions are funded as the population ages, and about the independence of the honours system. It also reflects debate over whether people with greater wealth should be encouraged to give up public payments they are entitled to receive.