The Brown faultline

ePolitix.com - Turner findings welcomed despite Brown's doubts

There is more to this for Brown than just pensions.

Why is he content to be seen to be the party pooper on this report; as he has been on other reports before this one. Is this the ressurection of Prudence or is it that he wants to make no fiscally risky decision before he gets out of the treasury and takes the helm of the UK?

As for the report itself it is clear that the logic in the report is well thought out and understandable. However, it is going to be a hard sell convincing those now in their twenties and thirties that they will be paying more tax over their lifetimes to support those in their forties and fifties who will retire at 65, but they themselves will have their retirement age shifted.

Actually I wonder if what is needed here is a mind shift for us all. There is clearly no fixed age for retirement anymore and often peoples retirements are a gradual process as they wind down, change job or go part time in the twilgiht of their working life. If you are comfortable with that as a late-life lifestyle then actually the "state" pension cutting in at a later date is not so bad. In any case the working life today is a lot about changing jobs and retraining throughout your working life rather than a single job and occupational pension.