GIDLEY CELEBRATES CENTENARY OF STATE PENSION

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Hampshire and Southampton MP, Sandra Gidley, this week joined with the Southampton Pensioner's Forum to mark the anniversary of Parliament's passing of the Old Age Pensions Act in 1908. Mrs. Gidley met local pensioners in the Civic Centre before taking part in a series of debates about the future of pensions within the UK.

Speaking at the rally, Sandra said:

"The state pension was one of the biggest achievements of the great Liberal government of 1906 - 1918. The Act launched the modern welfare state, helped millions of Britons through old age and has since been replicated across the world.

"Unfortunately, modern pensions are not in such a healthy state. Many people's pensions have collapsed and those who are starting out in life are unsure of how they are going to keep themselves through their old age.

"This is the time to be raising these crucial issues. The way pensioners' income has fallen behind that of people in work is disgraceful.

"Many hoped the rot would stop in 1997 - but it didn't. Now pensioners are worse off in relation to average earnings than those nearly 100 years ago.

"I and the Liberal Democrats are pushing for the government to restore the earnings link to the Basic State Pension. We have made a commitment to introducing a Citizen's Pension within two parliaments that would reduce the number of pensioners facing means-tested benefits from 50% to 10%. This would also restore the incentive for future generations to save.

"It is a disgrace that one in five pensioners now live in poverty. I only hope that a future Liberal Democrat government can live up to its predecessor and help the millions of pensioners that have been left behind by years of Tory and Labour neglect."

ENDS.