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Originally Posted by Vicky.

Its rising year on year because we have an aging population. The Tories are doing nothing to arrest its growth as its impossible to do so without touching pensions..and OAPs vote. They KNOW that over half the welfare budget goes on pensions/pension credit and such but they CHOSE to make out that its all JSA and cut away at what little those people have. When in reality they make up a tiny portion of the bill, but are baring the massive brunt of all of this rubbish. Hell, a few sheep even think that JSA/sickness benefit are actually the reason the country is in debt, with special thanks to the daily mail and its ilk.

The economy is picking up (IMO) in spite of the austerity measures, not because of. You cannot cut your way out of a recession.

Pensions is a big part of it but welfare is also rising, in 2005 there was £78b being spent, this year there is close to £117b

Do agree that they are making JSA etc. bear the brunt because like you say it would be political suicide to go after pensions, there's already enough criticism about that we don't do enough to look after our ageing population