Vote on pensions

Every time a government figure is challenged about generous pensions and golden handshakes given to former cabinet members, retired civil service leaders, the response is a resigned shrug.

“Yes, but we can do nothing, the Constitution won’t allow it,” runs the standard dismissal. That may wash in a soft 30-second interview, but it hardly cuts the muster when dealing with our European colleagues, especially when we are arguing for better terms on various parcels of debt.

There is an option though. The Government has announced that it will hold three referendums before Christmas. Why not add another issue to the list? Why not ask the electorate if the Government should have the power to retrospectively change pension arrangements. After all, they already do it when necessary for welfare recipients and there would be no need to spend anything campaigning on the issue. It might even be an opportunity to make it possible to believe that we actually are all in this together.