Labour tax tsar called the National Insurance exemption for ‘codger’ pensioners a ‘disgrace’
LABOUR is facing a furious backlash after it emerged the party’s new tax tsar branded pensioners “codgers” who should be forced to pay National Insurance.
Sir Edward Troup has previously called for sweeping tax rises, with a big focus on clobbering retirees.
The former Treasury special adviser and head of HMRC was announced as Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ new adviser as part of an expert panel on tackling tax avoidance.
But appearing at a Resolution Foundation roundtable in 2019, Sir Edward told politicians that Britain’s older generations have “had it ridiculously good”.
Offensive
Advising them to raise taxes by stealth, he also called for increases to income tax, national insurance, VAT and corporation tax.
His attitude towards older people has been revealed as two Labour election candidates are under fire for making “deeply offensive” comments about the monarchy.
In his tax speech, Sir Edward said: “Where should we be looking? I’m told I can’t use the word codgers, but as I’m officially a codger I think I will.
“You know, I’m a baby boomer. I was born in 1955. We have had it ridiculously good.
“We’ve benefited from low interest rates, high inflation when we bought our houses, we’ve enjoyed good returns on whatever we’ve managed to put into our pension funds and we’re not paying national insurance if we’re still working after the age of 60. “And it’s a complete disgrace. “I’m afraid we are going to have to look at the more senior members of society.”
He also said free TV licences for the elderly are “ridiculous”.
Conservative Party deputy chairman Craig Tracey said Sir Edward “wants to pick the pockets of pensioners”.
He added: “They will try to deny it, but Labour’s billions in unfunded spending pledges can only mean one thing...hiking up taxes.”
Dennis Reed, director of campaign group
Silver Voices, slammed Sir Edward’s comments as evidence of “age discrimination” and said they “betray a dislike of older voters as a whole”. He added: “If this is going to be his parameters for future tax policy, we want nothing of it.” Labour said the revelation about Sir Edward was “desperate stuff” from the Tories.
But it came hot on the heels of the scandal surrounding its two local election candidates.
In an outrageous tweet, Clare Pritchard described Queen Camilla as an “old whore” while Jane Orton called for the end of the monarchy – on the same day that Queen Elizabeth passed away. Last night Sir Keir Starmer was under pressure to ditch them. Ms Pritchard, who hopes to win a seat on Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancs, on May 2, slated Queen Camilla on May 6 last year.
Sharing a photo of the late Princess Diana, she wrote: “A true Queen NOT some jumped up old whore”. The previous day she shared a photo of King Charles, accusing him of “abandoning his son, wife & grandchildren”.
Ms Orton, who is standing for election in Leeds, chose September 8, 2022, to tweet: “In due course we need to review our constitution.” Two days later, as Charles was proclaimed King, she called for a “federal system like Germany”.
In other tweets, she called former PM Liz Truss a “stupid b **** ”.
Both women apologised following the Daily Express expose.
But Tory deputy chairman Matt Vickers said: “If Starmer has any respect for the monarchy he should immediately withdraw [them].”
It is understood an internal investigation is underway.
Labour said its candidates’ comments were “deeply offensive” and insisted the party “has nothing but the utmost respect and support” for the monarchy”.