IN a recent newspaper interview Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling was asked if he thought he was doing enough for our pensioners, and whether the 75p a week pension increase was an insult.

Mr Darling said that the government was doing enough for pensioners and every politician should remember that one day, they will themselves be retired and wanting a decent income in retirement.

What a load of tommy rot. If MPs can't be comfortable in retirement, who can?

For a person holding this high office to come out with a stupid statement such as that makes me wonder if these people have any intelligence whatsoever.

An MP wants to try living on a basic pension, week in week out. An MP's food bill for a week will probably be more than a basic pension.

Yes, the 75p rise is a great insult.

And New Labour saying they have given the pensioners other cash bonuses still does not make the 75p rise any less of an insult - as the other bonuses were an afterthought.

H HAMER, Lowther Place, Blackburn.