BUDGET: A SMALL STEP, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR OLDER PEOPLE

14.4.03

Following last week’s Budget, local Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone has said that increases in government support for elderly residents are not enough, and will not give Haringey pensioners the improvements in their well being that they so badly need.

Lynne Featherstone says that the small pensions increases are a step in the right direction, but the Government is only offering an extra £2.17 a week. The Lib Dems say this is well short of the £15 extra that Liberal Democrats believe the oldest pensioners deserve.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“After their disastrous 25 pence pensions increase, this shows that Labour may be slowly waking up to the needs of pensioners- but not quickly enough. Lib Dems will still battle for a better deal for pensioners, and continue to press the government to move in the right direction.

“The most effective means of helping the poorest pensioners in places like Haringey is though increasing the pension, particularly for older pensioners, such as those over 80.”

Comments?

If you have any comments on this story, please let me know in the space below, or you can email me at lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org