Pensioners are being let down by the Tories under plans contained in their manifesto launched earlier this week.
Under their proposals, older people stand to lose the pension guarantee in the next parliament, the Winter Fuel Allowance will be hacked away at, and the Tory social care plans could see those who need support forced to pay for it with their own homes.
For working people, it’s a similar story of insecurity. The tax guarantee the Tories made in 2015 is gone. With it goes the Tory promise not to raise income tax and National Insurance contributions, raising the spectre of tax rises on lower and middle incomes.
Stephen Morgan Labour’s candidate for Portsmouth South, said
“It’s no wonder the Tories have dropped from their manifesto their previous promise to raise living standards. That is now a distant prospect for millions of working people”.
Labour have said that from analysis of the Tory manifesto plans, it is clear the Tories are a threat to pensioners:
- Pensioners would have been left at least £330 worse off had the Tories’ new ‘Double Lock’ been in place in recent years
- Ten million people – five out of six pensioners – are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300
- 34 million people face the prospect of working longer if Theresa May raises the State Pension age.
Stephen added:
“I am truly shocked, but not surprised by, Tory plans for pensioners.
The crisis we see in social care and pensioners struggling to make ends meet was one of the reasons I went into politics. It is shameful that people who have paid into the system all their lives – like my grandparents who lived in Southsea all their lives – should be treated this way.
The Tory attack on pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowance is unfair and outrageous, and lays bare the threat they pose to pensioners’ security and living standards.
I will always stand up for Portsmouth’s pensioners. As your MP I will guarantee the triple-lock on state pensions, as well work hard to give social care the funding it needs”.
Since 2010, the average household in Britain is paying more in both direct and indirect taxation: a total of nearly £2,000. And now they face the threat of further tax rises.
“The Tories should admit they’ve got these plans wrong, apologise and drop them immediately. This is yet another example of them being out of touch” Stephen said.
