Dr Therese Coffey
Suffolk Coastal MP under fire over National Insurance plans
Monday, July 16, 2012
9:32 AM
UNDER-FIRE MP Dr Therese Coffey last night said she had “no regrets” over writing a controversial paper recommending pensioners should be forced to pay national Insurance.
The proposal caused outrage among many over-65s who make up more than a quarter of her Suffolk Coastal constituency.
But speaking for the first time since the plans were published she told the East Anglian Daily Times: “I do not regret writing what I did about National Insurance.
“The Chancellor is looking to merge tax and NI and this is the kind of thing we should be talking about at this time. This was a policy proposal - it is by no means, at this stage, anymore than that.
“The question I ask is quite simple: Why should someone beyond the age of 65 get more take-home money for doing the same job as some younger?”
Her proposals - set out in a document published by the Free Enterprise Group who are a collective of Conservative MPs - caused an angry reaction when they were made public last week.
She thinks that with the extra money raised from forcing pensioners to continue paying NI young people could be encouraged into work.
“The money we would raise should be ploughed back in to the economy by making it more attractive for employers to take young people on,” she said.
But charities including Age UK have hit out at the plans claiming they are yet another blow for older people amid the swingeing Government cuts programme.
Dr Coffey disagrees: “I am shocked that people do not see how much this Government has done for pensioners in the short time we have been in power - the triple lock pension being the most important.”
“I recognise that one or two members have said ‘I don’t like that’ but sometimes MPs are going to be unpopular. In Westminster I have even had some Labour MP commenting to me on how they think it is a good idea.”
The latest anger towards Dr Coffey is not the first time she has upset her constituents in the safe Conservative seat - she also backed Government plans to sell off forests, ship-to-ship transfers off the coast near Southwold and the scaling back of coast guard stations.
“Fewer than 1pc of my consituents contacted me about forests and I was one of just three MPs nationally to hold a public meetings about it,” she said. “With regards to the coast guard stations I have spoken to people working in some of them and they have clearly said ‘we could do this job with half the stations’.
“Of course I regret upsetting anyone especially anyone within my constituency but I do not go out to deliberately do that. The balance between Westminster and the constituency is a difficult one and I don’t think people always fully understand that.”
Suffolk Coastal Conservative chairman Geoff Holdcroft offered his backing to Dr Coffey: “We are all very happy with Therese. She has my fully backing.”
More News
- Teenager jailed for stab attack on fellow pupil at Norfolk school
- Schoolgirl Amy designs new racing strip for Bungay-based cycling club
- Shock as five councillors resign from Halesworth Town Council
- More than 500 chimney fires tackled in Suffolk in last three years
- Hopes for faster broadband in rural Norfolk
- Beer boost for coast thanks to Southwold brewer Adnams
- Eddie Izzard and Bobby Womack added to the line-up for Latitude Festival
- Record number of riders in Beccles Cycle for Life event
- Sun shines on school’s daffodil, craft and country fayre
- Firefighters release trapped woman from car
ADVERTISEMENT
10 comments
But a Cabinet Office note circulated to ministers has told them in the past: “The presumption for all invitations should be that they are declined. Should you feel there is an exceptional case to justify attendance it will need to be supported by a business case and to come to the Cabinet Office for approval.” What is Therese Coffey's Business case for accepting Freeby from BT ?
Report this comment
Farquarson-Smythe
Monday, July 16, 2012
It seems that we are not offered the opportunity to comment on this MP's acceptance (from BT) of a free ticket for the Olympic I00 metres final.
Report this comment
point du jour
Monday, July 16, 2012
In the land of the Pixies all was well
Report this comment
Farquarson-Smythe
Monday, July 16, 2012
Clearly no clue as to the lives so many pensioners lead. Presumably she would support NI on dividened income and interest on savings and other "unearned" income as well. Only the people of her constituency, who she clearly holds in low regard, can get rid of her and it would be good to see this happen to her and to the many other MP's who are meant to represent their constituents but in reality protect their vested interests. How about MP's only being paid the equivalent of the average income in their constituency. That would focus a few minds.
Report this comment
kiwidog
Monday, July 16, 2012
Why not be really bold and do away with National Insurance. It`s nothing more than a tax on jobs. The savings on administering the scheme would be significant. The short fall could be raised by a mix of increasing direct and indirect taxation. The vast majority of pensioners pay little or no income tax so this would be a fairer system all round.
Report this comment
BG
Monday, July 16, 2012
It seems we all have got the worst MP's in my own consitituency Waveney! its been awful for the last 15yrs none of them care or look after the local people who voted for them,
Report this comment
Sifu
Monday, July 16, 2012
Think of the money that would be saved if these people in rose tinted glasses were to take a pay cut or not claim exuberant expenses.
Report this comment
loco
Monday, July 16, 2012
The woman is committing political suicide. Safe seat.....not for much longer if this silly woman is allowed to stay. "“I am shocked that people do not see how much this Government has done for pensioners in the short time we have been in power".....this woman is something else, wrapped up in her own self importance.
Report this comment
Sapphire
Monday, July 16, 2012
John Gummer (now Baron Deben) and Miss Coffey's predecessor had his moments, but he always responded to his constituents and, even when occupying high office in government, he mostly considered our interests to be important. Miss Coffey, who has no prior connection with East Anglia that I know of, and who spent a decade or so trying all round the country (including Wales) for a safe Tory seat, could not care less for her constituents. They are just a passing irrelevance or inconvenience in her attempt to climb the Tory greasy pole, which she does by ingratiating herself, slavishly following the party line, and parroting the nonsense talked. I have voted in this area since the 1970 General Election, and can sincerely say that she is the worst MP ever to "represent" this constituency.
Report this comment
T Doff
Monday, July 16, 2012
Another example of a Conservative which has ignored and lost the local mandate and who is remotely controlled by vested interests. All over the eastern counties Conservatives are leaving their soul less parties and looking for an alternative to vote for, a more caring politics that represents the local Constituency and its needs. I hope that Suffolk Coastal voters will have the foresight to join the ketts Independent movement, create their own locally accountable representative, shouldn't be too hard to find someone.
Report this comment
ingo wagenknecht
Monday, July 16, 2012