CABP is hosting a public meeting on April 22 at 2 p.m. at the Spray Lakes Family Sports Centre, and encourages all British expatriates who have moved to the Cochrane area (and anyone else who may be eligible for a UK state pension) to come out.

23 March 2012

Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
ENGLAND

Madam:

As Chairman of the International Consortium of British Pensioners may I offer you our loyal and heartiest greetings on the occasion of Your Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

As I am sure you are aware many of your loyal subjects who reside abroad have their Basic State Pension frozen by Your Majesty’s Government. Many of these individuals, now over the age of 85 years, fought for Crown and country when your father was on the throne so that today’s citizens could enjoy the freedom that they now do. Many of the pensioners affected are Commonwealth citizens who came to the United Kingdom’s aid in its time of need. You will doubtless recall that in December 2010 we provided you a bound copy of our book, “Broken Faith”, which records the history of 107 such pensioners who fought for their country both during and after the Second World War.

Your Majesty, whilst not all of the more than half a million pensioners affected are service veterans, they are all people who contributed to the life and health of Great Britain during their working years, just like the other half million plus living overseas whose pensions are not frozen. Now, in their old age, they find that they are abandoned solely because of where they have decided to live in their retirement years. You may be surprised to learn that more than ninety five percent of those whose pensions are frozen live in Commonwealth countries. Surely you would agree that such a disparate policy hardly fits into Great Britain’s reputation for equality and fairness for all, a policy which is so often trumpeted by Your Majesty’s Government. Nor does it meet the intent of the the CHOGM declarations of Singapore 1971 and Harare 1991which called for all Commonwealth nations to, “… use all our efforts to foster equality and dignity everywhere”.

On behalf of the International Consortium of British Pensioners, we pray that during this year of great celebration of Your Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, you will request your Government to provide pension parity for all British Pensioners living overseas in their retirement years, regardless of where they have chosen to live.

I have the honour to be, Madam,

Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant.
Anthony Bockman
Chairman, International Consortium of British Pensioners

Proposed letter to Her Majesty the Queen from CABP members

Your Majesty I am writing to you on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee to draw your attention to the plight of 548,000 UK expat pensioners around the world, whose Basic State Pension is frozen for no better reason than where they chose to live, the majority of these countries being Commonwealth countries. Many of these pensioners fought in the last war on behalf of your father King George VI and the Country. Many of these individuals now only receive some 25% of the current UK pension and are living in poverty. The Country seems to have forgotten the debt that is owed to these veterans. May I petition your Majesty to ask your Government to provide Pension Parity to all on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee as a mark of respect for their contribution to the Country in the past.

[Whatever you write should also be copied to the present MP in your old constituency in the UK.]