Pensions Spokesman rebuttal of Tory policy

Ahead of his visit to Shrewsbury tomorrow, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Prof. Steve Webb MP., has responded to a Conservative announcement about raising the age of retirement.

Prof. Steve Webb said: "Pension policy needs to be stable and predictable years ahead, not made up on the back of a cigarette packet.  Bringing forward the rise in the pension age by a decade will hit hardest those who have no pension other than the state pension.

It is typical of Tory policy to hit the poorest the hardest.  Under the Tories top civil servants will go on being able to draw generous pensions at sixty whilst low-paid workers will have to wait until they are sixty six.

"There are big issues to address in pension policy but they need to be taken as a whole, not picking out one part in isolation to get a quick headline.

Women's pension ages are already rising between 2010 and 2020 but the Tories don't seem to have thought through what their announcement will mean for women.

Dr Charles West, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Shrewsbury and Atcham said "Liberal democrats have always believed in a fair pension for the elderly. We believe that the elderly should receive a pension that will enable them to live respectably and with self-respect. This Tory proposal will hit vulnerable people late in their working life at a time when they have little or no chance to make other arrangements."

ENDS