麻豆约拍

Why shouldn't pensioners pay the same tax as everyone else? The newspapers this morning have chosen one aspect of the Budget - the change in tax allowances for the over 65s.

The Telegraph has "Granny tax hits pensioners", The Times leads with the cut to the 50p top rate of tax but also reports "raid on pensioners", the Guardian links the two stories claiming "pensioners fund tax cut", the Mail draws the same conclusion with "Osborne picks the pockets of pensioners", and the Mirror has "budget bombshell, pensioners mugged. From the newspapers at least there seems to be consensus, if you are over 65 - you have been robbed.

The Chanellor George Osbourne described his decsision as a major simplification and told MPs no pensioner will lose in cash terms. And the Lib Dem's most senior money man Danny Alexander says this is fairer.

Here is the details - under rules introduced in 1925 by Winston Churchill pensioners have had a higher personal tax allowance than younger people. If you are between the ages of 65 and 74 you can earn 拢10,500 from April and the over 75s do not pay tax until their income reaches 拢10,650. Normally these limits rise each year but Mr Osbourne is now freezing them, so utltimately everyone starts paying tax at the same point regardless of their age. What is wrong with that?

Do you feel robbed - do you feel like you are funding a tax cut for millionaires? The top rate of tax was cut from 50p in the pound to 45p meaning a millionaire will pay 拢42,000 a year less in tax, are they paying for that or are you?

Should we all start paying tax at the same point - why should pensioners not pay the same tax as everyone else?

How much do you know about epilepsy?

Over 100,000 young people suffer from the condition in this country. It can lead to social exclusion and real problems at school for those children.

Actor Philip Martin Brown from Paddock Wood became an ambassador for Young Epilepsy last year. He is lived with epilepsy most of his life. He tells us his story.

Why are so many of our children leaving primary school officially obese?

1 in 5 primary school leavers in Medway are obese.

It is not much better in Kent where the average is just over 18%.

Despite government efforts, there has been no fall in the obesity rate in the last four years.

So, who is to blame? Are parents being responsible enough for cooking healthy food?

Is it ignorance or laziness? Or is this about cost? Is it too expensive for low income families to buy and cook healthy food?

We hear your views and stories.

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