Think-tank: 'cut pensioner benefits now - they'll be dead before they vote again'
The Taxpayers' Alliance has recommended that the government should cut pensioner benefits - because pensioners might be dead or suffering from memory problems by the time the next election comes around.
Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the group's research director Alex Wild said there were two reasons why cuts should be made now.
"The first of which will sound a little bit morbid - some of the people... won't be around to vote against you in the next election. So that's just a practical point, and the other point is they might have forgotten by then," he said.
"If you did it now, chances are that in 2020 someone who has had their winter fuel cut might be thinking, 'Oh I can't remember, was it this government or was it the last one? I'm not quite sure.'"
Liam Fox, former Conservative defence secretary, appeared to agree, suggesting this was a 'great opportunity' as the Labour party was currently not much of a threat.
"We have a broken opposition. We have just won a general election and we need now to take the tough decisions we believe are right," he said.
The winter fuel allowance, free bus passes, free prescriptions and the Christmas bonus could all be targeted.
Unsurprisingly, the news has horrified many.
"Mr Wild's remarks are both politically cynical and personally offensive and there needs to be an apology. It represents some of the most awful ageist nonsense I've heard in a long time," Dot Gibson, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention tells the Telegraph.
"He doesn't consider the fact that the winter fuel allowance is essential because every year tens of thousands of older people die from the cold. Taking it away would just make this worse – but perhaps that's what he wants."
Right-wing think-tank Policy Exchange claimed earlier this year that only 10% of pensioners are unable to heat their home to a comfortable temperature and really need the £200-£300 annual payment, which currently goes to all people receiving the basic state pension.
However, recent research by LV found that a third of over-65s are living on less than they'd get on the minimum wage - and, of these, more than half say they've had to go without in order to stay within their budget. For these people particularly, pensioners' benefits can make all the difference.
Read more on AOL Money:
Pensioners 'should have to opt in for winter fuel payment'
Low-income pensioners 'missing out on £3.7 billion worth of benefits
The surprising benefits capital of Britain
