Lib Dems call for more Generous Pensions

9.05.54pm GMT Thu 4th Feb 2010

Responding to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics that show an estimated 2 million pensioners in the UK are living in poverty, Dr Peter Hirst, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Congleton said,

Liberal Democrats - Fighting for a fair deal for pensioners

"Both Labour and Conservatives have overseen a decrease in the value of the state pension. The Conservatives presided over the erosion of the state pension in the 80s and it has never recovered. Labour's contribution was to make the means-tested benefits system, that they designed to supplement it, too complex and embarrassing for many to apply for.

He continued "The result is that many pensioners are trying to live on the basic state pension. This causes real hardship, especially when a hard winter like this one, is causing a further million to fall into fuel poverty.

"We need a more generous, universal pension based on citizenship that would give pensioners a stable income and a sense of dignity in retirement," he concluded.