A fair deal for pensioners says Dakers at Hounslow Age Concern

4.06.44pm GMT Mon 24th Jan 2005

Andrew Dakers at Age Concern Hounslow with the £25 extra shopping the Lib Dems pensions boost would buy pensioners

Thousands of senior citizens in Brentford, Chiswick, Hounslow & Isleworth will benefit from Liberal Democrat plans for a pension increase of £25 a week, claimed the areas' Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Andrew Dakers, in a talk today to Age Concern Hounslow.

The plans, which were agreed at the party's conference last year, would initially be brought in for the over-75s, but would later be extended to all pensioners.

Andrew also brought nearly £25 of shopping within him to show members of Age Concern Hounslow's Fitness Group what they extra money could buy. Speaking on the plans, Andrew said:

"Our aim is a decent, universal, pension for all. These proposals would take a million pensioners out of means testing overnight. We are also proposing to axe the council tax and provide free care for the elderly. All this will leave pensioners much better off.

"The current policy of the government means that many elderly residents of Brentford, Chiswick, Hounslow & Isleworth are getting a mean deal. The Chancellor has given with one hand and taken away with the other. Pensioners aged 70 or more get an extra £100 towards council tax rises this year, but this is due to be halved to £50 next year.

"Those who have worked hard all their lives and carefully saved for old age have been stung by Pension Credit means testing. There is no fairness to this at all.

"Those aged over 75 came through the hardship of the war years. Many fought for our country. And this government is penalising those who have worked hardest to support themselves.

"People deserve a decent pension as a right without needless form filling and bureaucracy. That's why Liberal Democrats will end means testing and raise the state pension by £25 a week, beginning with those over 75. It is what our senior citizens need and deserve."