David cameron is not a prime minister used to making spending pledges. The government is halfway through an austerity programme that by one measure has lopped £100 billion ($155 billion) off spending. Yet on February 23rd Mr Cameron promised that he will continue to protect what should be considered an extravagance: universal benefits for pensioners. In 2010 the Tories took power pledging to protect these handouts, which include free bus passes, television licences and the winter-fuel allowance, an annual cash benefit. They calculated that they were relatively cheap-today they cost £3 billion in a £215 billion welfare budget-but elector-ally hugely valuable. Unlike the young, the elderly tend to vote-and usually Tory.
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