Crawley Pensioners Action Group (CPAG)
CPAG is based in Crawley, West Sussex

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CPAG was founded in 1998 by Roy Hathaway and Muriel Hirsch and is affiliated with the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) via NPC's South East Region. CPAG co-operates with ISITFAIR (who campaign against the unjust Council Tax) and liaises with other pensioner movements. CPAG has a Steering Committee who meet regularly to define priorities, programs and organise routine meetings  CPAG has been active in local campaigns for health support (including our requirement for a proper hospital) and post office closures. CPAG has a formal Constitution and publishes its own in-house magazine as well as other publications.

CPAG has no political affiliation, we do not campaign for or against any political party and avoid extremism. We criticise Government but not on a party political basis. However, we point out where government fails to safeguard the interests and dignity of present and future pensioners. Currently, they mis-use the National Insurance Fund (the Nation's 'Pensions Pot')  They try to switch pensions from the public sector to the private but contradict this by means-testing which removes incentives to save. They have not controlled the financial services industry which further inhibits working people from saving.  Government wastes over £101 billion/year. Without such waste, more money could be used to support pensions. Waste often results from non-democratic representation and actions not desired by ordinary people. We therefore highlight examples of democratic deficit.

We know that without our campaigns things would be even worse. We object to the regressive Council Tax, which has risen so much it seems like a deliberate attack on pensioner's savings. The enormous rises in Council Tax result from the actions of Central rather than local Government.

State Pension and other benefits in the major EU countries are better than ours. Australia and New Zealand have sensible solutions for their State Pensions and even the US has a better system although it is under attack, as it is in France and Germany. Before 1997 the UK had successful private pensions but it has been massively damaged government's taxation and means-testing. Although there is pressure in some countries to reduce state pensions there is still scope for the UK to be closer to the higher standards adopted abroad.

Our age group are the most diligent voters and, political parties worry over our voting power.  We are ‘time-rich’ so, we can gather data, analyse it, and raise our concerns. Politicians cannot fool us. Our generation has experience, and talent. We owe it to the younger generation to use our capability to safeguard their interests for the time they will retire. The frantic lifestyle and economic pressures result in working people not having the time and expertise to analyse retirement issues. Many will have a very a rude awakening when they stop work.

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