Pensioner would "go to jail for cause"

2:12pm Friday 20th April 2007

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A DESPERATE 71-year-old Bridgwater pensioner says he would be willing to go to prison in protest to help elderly people's money problems.

Former army man Mark Wilson was among members of the Bridgwater Senior Citizens' Forum who held a campaigning march on Friday (April 20).

The elderly residents were highlighting the continual above-inflation increases in the council tax and the re-linking of the Old Age Pension to average earnings.

And asked about other pensioners who had recently been jailed for refusing to pay council tax, Mr Wilson revealed it was a step he would consider for this protest cause.

"The standard of living for us is dropping all the time," the 71-year-old admitted.

"I would go for prison for this if I thought it would do any good.

"I shouldn't have to go begging for pension credit, we looked after this country so why don't the Government try looking after us?"

See Tuesday's Mercury for the full story and pictures.