GREG BARKER MP: LABOUR PLANS WOULD TAKE £234 FROM 30,750 PENSIONERS IN BEXHILL AND BATTLE!
17.06.13 for immediate release: Research by local MP Greg Barker has shown that Labour’s plan to cut pensions would hit a staggering 30,750 pensioners in Bexhill and Battle, many of whom depend on their Basic State Pension to pay their bills and put food on the table.
Labour have chosen to repay the deficit that they created by a cap on pensions rather than benefits, meaning the Basic State Pension would be £234 less a year by 2017/18.
Greg said:
“Now we know that when Labour say they would cut welfare, what they really mean is they would choose to cut the Basic State Pension over capping benefits.
“This would take £234 a year away from 30,750 pensioners in Bexhill and Battle – people who have worked hard all their lives.
“This is about a simple choice: the Conservatives want to reward local pensioners who have worked hard for their pensions. Labour want to punish them”.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Labour voted against accelerating the State Pension Age. Labour voted against the Pensions Bill at second reading, which accelerated the State Pension Age (Hansard, 20 June 2011, col.128, link).
- Ed Miliband has repeatedly opposed our State Pension Age rises. ‘I totally understand why there is such anger about this issue of people having to work until they are 68, it’s incredibly hard, back-breaking work’ (Daily Telegraph, 15 May 2012, link).
- Rachel Reeves has attacked the State Pension Age rises. ‘There is strong and vocal opposition to these unfair pension changes across the UK. It's not too late for David Cameron to think again’ (Channel 4 News, 20 June 2011, link).
- Labour want to include pensions in their welfare ‘cap’. Speaking on the Sunday Politics, Ed Balls said:‘George Osborne is going to announce his cap in two weeks' time. I don’t know whether he will exclude pensioner spending or include it. At the moment our plan is to include it’ (Ed Balls, Sunday Politics, 9 June 2013, link).
- So Labour would have to reverse the ‘triple lock’. The triple lock ensures the Basic State Pension rises by the highest of inflation, earnings, or 2.5 per cent.
- Labour refuse to confirm Labour would protect the triple lock. Douglas Alexander, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, refused to confirm Labour would protect the triple lock (Douglas Alexander, Daily Politics, 12 June 2013):
AN: Let me try one more time. I don't understand how you can say, "We will cap welfare spending and pensions will be included, but we will also increase pensions by 2.5% even if it means breaking the cap”
DA: Well, in what circumstances did Ed say even if it means breaking the cap? What he said is hold on to the triple-lock at present.
AN: At present?
DA: Well, that remains our policy.
AN: The next three years?
DA: We will set out our policy position in the manifesto.
- Pensions would be £230 lower by 2017/18 without the triple lock. Earnings are forecast to outstrip inflation or 2.5 per cent from 2015/16. The level of the basic state pension would be £234 lower without the Triple Lock Guarantee (HM Treasury, Budget 2013, 10 June 2013).
- Labour’s pension increases were as low as 75p. In April 2000, the basic state pension rose from £66.75 per week to £67.50 per week, an increase of just 75p (Watson Wyatt, UK Basic State Retirement Pensions, link).
- Labour have already opposed three welfare caps worth £14 billion:
HOUSING BENEFIT CAP: opposed by Labour. ‘Other people will pay the price for his cuts. Is it not time that he thought again on housing benefit?’ (Ed Miliband, Hansard, 27 October 2010, link). COST: £2.6 billion over 5 years.
£26,000 BENEFIT CAP: opposed by Labour. The Labour Party, including Labour leader Ed Miliband, voted against a deferred division on introducing the benefit cap as recently as 21 November 2012 (Hansard, 21 November 2012, Col. 689, link). COST: £850 million over 5 years.
WELFARE UPRATING CAP: opposed by Labour. Labour MPs voted against the Bill at its second reading in the House of Commons (Hansard, 8 January 2013, Col. 721,link). COST: £10.6 billion over 5 years.