A left-wing campaigner has caused a huge row after saying: "Pensioners aren't on 'benefits'. They're on a pension."
The comment from left-wing campaigner David Osland sparked fury among individuals on social media, with comparisons of Personal Independence Payment (Pip) to pensions.
One commenter said: "If you are talking about a workplace pension, that's something they have earned, so it is not a benefit."
Another echoed the user's thoughts, stating: "Most have worked all their lives paying into a system so they can have a pension... time needs to come where if you don't pay in, you don't get anything out - a pension is not a benefit!"
Left-wing campaigner Osland said: 'Pensioners aren't on 'benefits'. They're on a pension
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The outrage sparked with the comparisons to Pip, which has been making the headlines following Sir Keir Starmer's U-turn on cutting Britain's ballooning benefits bill by £5billion.
Pip is a benefit that supports people with extra funding if they have a long-term physical or mental health condition, or disability, or difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition.
The UK state pension has been classified as a benefit since its introduction in 1908. Its current framework has been the same since 1948 and is classed as a benefit.
One user said: "A pension is living off the savings or investments you made. The state pension is a benefit paid for by the current taxpayers.
"Your contributions whilst working paid for the benefits of old-aged pensioners at the time, not paid into some fantasy pot."
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The Prime Minister had a huge climbdown just days after dismissing over 120 Labour rebels as being "noises off".
A No10 spokesman said: "We have listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are worried about the pace of change for those already supported by the system.
"The package will preserve the social security system for those who need it by putting it on a sustainable footing, provide dignity for those unable to work, support those who can and reduce anxiety for those currently in the system."
No10 explained that the reforms are "underpinned by Labour values" and demonstrate the change they bring to the country.
Starmer claimed that Labour have listened to their MPs
GETTYSome 126 Labour MPs were ready to rebel against Starmer following plans to remove Pip from some 800,000 people, sparking fears of a confidence vote and even a leadership contest.
According to the Savanta survey, commissioned by the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London, Labour's percentage has dropped 11 points since winning the election, currently sitting at 32 per cent.
Following Starmer's U-turn, Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said: "This is another humiliating U-turn forced upon Keir Starmer.
"The latest 'deal' with Labour rebels sounds a lot like a two-tier benefits system, more likely to encourage anyone already on benefits to stay there rather than get into work."
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