In addition to all the income tax I (and countless others) have paid over the years, we've also contributed extensively via national insurance deductions - thousands and thousands and thousands - ostensibly to fund our own state pensions and welfare benefits.

Bichard seems to be ignoring the fact that the state pension is a contributory pension fund - we've paid in. We've already made the contribution - it's not a charity hand out, we're entitled to it because we've already paid in. Grrrr!