The parties contesting the Holyrood election have been falling over themselves to bid for pensioners votes over the last week.
It started with the SNPs decision to scrap the council tax and replace it with a local income tax -- almost guaranteed to help the majority of pensioners whose house size is outstripping their pension income. Labour responded this week with a promise to introduce a new lower band, cut council tax for pensioners by 24% and halve water and sewerage charges within two years.
The Tories have gone 26% better -- they say they'll halve the council tax for senior citizens. And the Lib Dems have yet to join the bidding war.
So scrapping water charges or scrapping the poll tax -- which will Scotland's pensioners go for?
The Votepods debate at the Albert Halls in Stirling 1-3pm on Thursday 12 April (yip -tomorrow!!!) will be the first chance for representatives of Scotland's 700,000 pensioners to give their reaction to the latest proposals. Given that over 60's have the highest propensity to vote -- its no wonder the parties are queuing up to make big promises. But happily, pensioners have seen and heard it all, and are very likely to deliver a light savaging to any politician that tries to offer glib sound-bites are evasive answers.
The afternoon will start with songs from Sheena Wellington - who opened the Scottish Parliament with her rendition of Burns anthem, A Man's a Man for 'a that.
IF YOU'RE CURIOUS COME ALONG -- ITS FREE AND IT'LL BE GOOD CRAIC.
IF YOU CAN'T COME WATCH THIS SPACE FROM THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS.
-- Good luck to all the candidates who are.....
LAB Sylvia Jackson
SNP Christine Grahame
TORY Graham Brown
LIB DEM Andrew Arbuckle
GREEN Robin Harper
SSP Lorna Bett
SOLIDARITY Tommy Sheridan
SENIOR CITIZENS PARTY Don Sharp
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