Power to the older people

We will, of course, be encouraging older people to exercise their right to vote, using all the different means available this year, and to be well informed before they cast their vote.

Your readers need to be aware that the law relating to charities, elections and party politics is well defined and Age Concern Swindon will work towards our goal to enable all older people to enjoy a happy and fulfilling older age within the law.

Mr Selway is right in saying that older voters wield considerable power at the ballot box and older people are more likely to vote than others. That's why it's important to ask all the candidates looking for your vote to explain what they will do, if elected, to ensure that older people get a fair deal.

The Age Concern view about council tax rises is this: many older people in Swindon and across the country will be dreading their council tax bills arriving this month, with increases of 15 per cent and more causing misery for thousands.

Council tax increases will particularly affect those older people living on fixed modest incomes as well as those on lower incomes who are entitled to income benefits including council tax benefit but fail to claim. It is also difficult for those living in valuable houses but who have small incomes to live on. Age Concern believes it would be much fairer to have a tax that is relative to income.

It also illustrates the importance of moving towards a realistic assessment of older people's everyday costs and to aim for these to be funded from both public and private sources.

I would be very pleased to hear from Adver readers who would like to explore these issues in more depth between now and May 1. And for people with access to a computer, why not have a look at our website at www.ageconcern.org.uk and follow the links to campaigns. There's a lot we can do together.

Jo Osorio, director

Age Concern Swindon

email jo.osorio@ageconcern.org.uk