Pensioners' Campaign Reaches No. 10

8.37.01pm GMT Wed 23rd Mar 2005

Lee Glendon (centre) presents the petition, with Andrew May (left) and Professor Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary

A petition demanding a fair deal for local pensioners reached No.10 Downing Street yesterday. 1,091 adults of all ages signed the petition organised by Lee Glendon, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Bracknell Constituency.

The campaign called on Tony Blair to live up to his broken manifesto pledge that pensioners would share fairly in the increasing prosperity of the nation. Two key issues were voiced by many pensioners:

- The unfair Council Tax which has soared by 48% in Bracknell Forest and 38% in Wokingham District since 2000/01. This tax hits pensioners who have worked hard throughout their lives and saved responsibly for their retirement.

- Means-testing. This issue affects the poorest pensioners in our community who do not claim the means-tested Pension Credit - we believe some 1,076 pensioner households in the Bracknell Constituency are suffering in poverty because they only receive the basic pension.

Lee Glendon said:

"Our campaign sought to highlight the plight of many pensioners and found tremendous support across the whole constituency. We started the campaign with an action day in Bracknell Town Centre last December and have moved across the constituency to Great Hollands, Easthampstead, Crowthorne, Binfield, Finchampstead and Sandhurst.

Pensioners deserve dignity and security in their retirement. Lib Dems will scrap the Council Tax and replace it with a much fairer Local Income Tax - most pensioners will be significantly better off and many will not pay any Local Income Tax at all. We will also introduce a new Citizen's Pension for pensioners aged 75 and older that will scrap means-testing and pay a decent pension to all men and women - meaning an extra £100 per month for a single pensioner and an extra £130 per month for pensioner couples."