I WAS disgusted to listen to the plans outlined by Gordon Brown and supported by Tony Blair regarding the state pensioners who for many years have been deprived of the full amount of pension each week by the former Conservative Government and now the Labour Government.

They plan to split the pensioners into two groups, one that consists of the poor ones and the remainder being those who have a pension from where they previously worked and/or a bank savings account through their own endeavours.

May I point out that the extra income has nothing to do with the Government and the state pension and if the previous Conservative Government led by Mrs Thatcher and followed by John Major had paid state pensioners their full entitlement there wouldn't have been as many poor ones.

Mrs Thatcher endorsed my views as did Mrs Castle (Labour). If the Government persists then they are going to lose a great many votes at the next general election -- not just the present pensioners but also those who are due to retire soon.

J Pitcher,

Northumberland Avenue,

North Shore.