British pensioners living in Australia told today how their plans to live out their days in 'the land of our dreams' have been shattered by a European court decision.

Hundreds of thousands of British expatriates have been shocked to learn that their pensions will not rise despite an increase in the cost of living and a falling British pound.

Now many are facing the prospect of packing their bags and returning to Britain because they cannot afford to live in Australia.

'We have been badly let down by the British government who have fought us all the way on our plea for an increased pension,' said 65-year-old widow Muriel Jones, who lives in Sydney but who has now accepted that she will have to return to the UK to survive.

'I worked all my life in the civil service where 'fairness and firmness' was instilled into me, but the British government has gone against that motto and they have turned their backs on us.'

Mrs Jones spoke to the Mail after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the UK government could continue to withhold inflationary adjustments to its basic state pension for expatriates.

The ruling follows an eight-year battle between the government and UK expat pensioner organisations, including the British Pensioners in Australia group and the British Australian Pensioners Association.

'These misers in the British government have thrown these people away, despite all the years of service they have given to the country,' said Mr Jim Tilley, chairman of BPIA.

'With this ruling, the UK government will continue to discriminate against its aged pensioners based upon where they choose to retire.

'This is a devastating result and it will affect the lives of many British expat pensioners. The living standards of many will only continue to decline as the cost of living increases and the pound falls.'
Pensioners such as Mrs Jones are attracted to Sydney for the warm climate and until recently, the low cost of living

Pensioners such as Mrs Jones are attracted to Sydney for the warm climate and until recently, the low cost of living

Britons who have retired in non-Commonwealth countries such as the US, Israel and the Philippines - which have a reciprocal arrangement - enjoy increases in their pensions in accordance with the general cost of living, but pensioners in Australia and other Commonwealth nations will have to continue living on pensions that were frozen from the time they left Britain.
http://bit.ly/dAYj6z

I don't think they should get more, any of them, they've left the UK even if they did pay their dues here, the money should be spent here and kept in Britain, its daft to expect Britain to keep you after moving out.

Less of the use of the word POM on this forum please Pumice

One should have Respect, for All members of this forum, as anyone would expect to Receive.

Afraid they have made thier bed.............I thought pensions were forecast on the capability of that money being spent within the economy that raised it?.

Well, I'm a member here, but had forgotten until this forum was mentioned on buzz,  senior moment last November, so I popped across and bless! Pummy is here!. Hiya Pum

Whilst I will in no way defend pum or his postings methods, he is at least consistent across all the forums.


 

How lovelly to see you again. Was just going to sign out, when I saw your name and had to say Hello.

Hi Cath what brings you back? good to see you.

I wonder why you had second thoughts on your original reply, at least I understood it, in both bold and plain text.


 

"We'll be seeing You,in all those old familiar places"
Glad to see you back with us.