Yeah, the 'freebie' thing is a disgrace. I understand they're considering a price - hike on alcohol, and pretty soon you won't be able to sit in a pub garden and roll a fag.
We are approaching the end of civilization as we know it.....
Edit; this was in response to your opening post Mister Divegeester,. I should have pressed the 'quote' button. Still, my point stands.
-Removed-What....? (re. the smoking) , I've clearly been away from the mother - country for too long, I hadn't realised how far it had declined....It'll be five years now since our last brief visit.
My beloved was a Public (Civil) Servant for some of her career, and it was made very clear that she could accept NO gift or gratuity for services rendered to the public, not even doughnut to say 'thanks' for whatever, you could get sacked for that, zero tolerance. It's a pity Mister Starmer doesn't adhere to the same principles.
-Removed-I don't get it. On the one hand you seem to be against "socialism," but on the other you're against "scrapping" the winter fuel payments -- something of a socialistic policy if ever there was one.
And it's not being entirely scrapped -- just for those who don't need the payments. There will be means testing.