My pledge as a workers' MP for Chorley - Pensions

Chorley voters have been writing to me to ask that I pledge support for issues that are of particular concern to them. So that they are on the record for all voters, I am posting my response on some of the key issues here, on my blog:

PENSIONS

I can absolutely confirm that the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition supports the four demands raised in the Organise Members' Pensioner Manifesto and I fully commit to voting in Parliament, and campaigning outside Parliament, alongside pensioner organisations and trade unions, for the four points:

1. to pledging pensioners‘ tax allowances be increased to £15,000.

2. to demanding that the state pension be exempt from tax.

3. to ensuring the pensions triple-lock after the election.

4. to making sure that the retirement age isn't increased any more.

In fact, I would say these demands could quite justifiably be strengthened. Indeed, I note that nearly 69,000 respondents to the Organise survey called for the retirement age to be lowered, not just not increased further. I would agree.

The TUSC manifesto calls for:

A) Restore the pre-Thatcher real value of pensions. 

B) Reverse the increases imposed on the state retirement age. 

Our opponents may say that such demands are 'unaffordable' and/or dependent on first ensuring 'financial stability'. Sadly, whatever promises are made during the election campaign, all of the main political parties will put the  demands of the financial system and the wealthy ahead of those of the workers - and retired workers - whose labour produced that wealth. That sadly now includes the Labour Party, a Party that my parents and grandparents helped to build as a party for working people, which now declares itself as "the natural party of British business".

TUSC stands in the real traditions of the labour and trade union movement. We believe that a country as wealthy as Britain can - and must - afford to ensure pensioners are taken out of poverty and, indeed, workers can retire at an age when they can enjoy their retirement to the full, not be forced to work on well into their 60s.

Finally, I should note that Chorley pensioners have a particular complication in that its MP is again seeking re-election as the Speaker. In this role he is unable to really speak up for you. As your MP, I would be able to speak up for you without being limited by such a role, and call for policies that improve the life of both pensioners, and those yet to retire, across the whole Chorley community.

Martin Powell-Davies,

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition for Chorley