Labour will protect the incomes of twelve million pensioners by legislating to keep the ‘triple lock’, the party has announced.
Under the Tories’ watch 300,000 more pensioners are in poverty, yet the Conservative Party has failed to commit to the ‘triple lock’ on state pensions; a policy which protects pensioners’ standard of living by guaranteeing that their incomes rise to meet the cost of living.
Labour’s commitment means that state pensions will be uprated by the higher of average earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent.
The party is also committing to keep the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes.
Cllr Stephen Morgan, Labour’s candidate for Portsmouth South, who has been a trustee of a charity supporting older people in the city understands the challenges pensioners in Portsmouth face.
He said:
“The Tories’ failure to guarantee a decent standard of living for older people, cuts to social care and their failure to protect the NHS are proof that they no longer care for older people. Portsmouth’s pensioners deserve better”.
£4.6 billion has been cut from social care budgets over the last parliament and the government failed to protect the NHS.
Cllr Stephen Morgan added:
“With more pensioners in poverty under the Tories, it is clear that only Labour will provide a secure and dignified retirement for the many who have contributed all their lives.
From the pensioners I have spoken with on the doorstep, this triple lock proposal will be welcome news here in Portsmouth”.
