Tory Plan for you to Work 'til you Drop

I have been one of the lucky ones. I reached 65 before the Tories started on their program of taking money away from the next generation of our citizens who approach what they thought would be retirement.

And it's not just been pensioners who are suffering under Tory austerity. Taking from the poorer in our society to protect the living standards of the rich. Tory Universal Credit is hurting too many of our fellow citizens. The Centre for Social Justice, an ironic name if ever I heard one when you consider that this Tory think tank were responsible for Universal Credit, are at it again. They now propose denying anyone under 75 their state pension from 2035.

A new study shows that the proportion of elderly people living in severe poverty in the UK is five times what it was in 1986, the largest increase among western European countries. I’m deeply concerned that any further increases in the state pension age could have a hugely disproportionate impact on Scotland and particularly the North East due to its unique demographic needs. The rise, from 0.9% of the elderly population living in severe poverty to around 5%, is attributable to Britain’s state pension system and its “low basic payments and means-tested supplements”, says the report author, Pension Reforms and Old Age Inequalities in Europe.

From the stripping away of free TV licences for the over 75s, to the burning injustices facing the WASPI women who have been denied the right to their state pension, the UK government’s attitude towards the elderly in society is shameful. The new Prime Minister must take action to address the dire levels of pensioner poverty in the UK.

The Scottish Government is working to support the elderly across Scotland and has introduced free bus passes for those over 60 years old, helping around 1.13 million people, along with a new fuel poverty bill focusing on addressing the poverty caused by the cost of heating homes during the cold weather. Additionally, the Scottish Government is working to protect the NHS and has ensured prescriptions remain free. Providing security and dignity for older people is central to our social justice agenda.

However, despite the best efforts of the SNP Government these new proposals could see Scots literally working to the death. The Aberdeenshire average life expectancy is 79.1 years for males- meaning men on average will have just four years to enjoy their long worked for retirement, many will never even make it to retirement!

I find it particularly concerning the lack of thought given to those in manual labour trades. Many of my constituents are working on farms, fisheries and in our national services where the physical demand on bodies is immense and there are distinct challenges working outside and in active jobs. Following changes at the top of government in Westminster it is more important than ever to ensure the interests of the North-East are accounted for- the Conservative Government must stop this callous threat to people’s pensions.