I AGREE with Don Reeve (SA, January 19) that when Maggie was in power senior citizens only got a £10 Christmas bonus and some bus tokens and that all other benefits were means tested.

However, when Labour came to power we were promised so much more.

But in reality things have gone from bad to worse.

Stealth tax after stealth tax and exorbitant rises in the community charge are proof of this.

It is true that we now get a winter fuel allowance, a free TV licence and the promise of free bus travel but these scraps from the table are to be seen for what they really are vote-catching gimmicks.

They are all, of course, appreciated but what senior citizens really ask for is a retirement pension on a par with the average weekly wage.

If we were given this it would cut out the need for those vote-catching gimmicks which no doubt are expensive to operate.

Of course this is just wishful thinking on my part as pigs are likely to sprout wings and fly before Gordon Prudence Brown proves that he really cares for all senior citizens RW SELWAY.

Stratton St Margaret