Prime Minister David Cameron recently announced that the State Pension will continue to rise by a minimum of 2.5% per year until 2020, should the Conservatives be successful in winning the next general election.
The ‘triple lock’ system is a safeguard that ensures that the State Pension increases by whichever is higher – inflation, wage increases or the 2.5% figure – and interestingly the system is also supported by the Labour party ‘in principle’.
Smelt the coffee
Indeed, it seems that Cameron intends to put pensioners at the heart of his election manifesto – perhaps he’s finally woken up and smelt the coffee – and realised the power that older voters will have in influencing the outcome of the next election. It is a deliberate policy and perhaps recognises the fact that the Coalition Government has not been the kindest when it comes to the UK’s retired population.
So, is this a stake in the ground early in the run up to 2015? Well it certainly seems that way and the Conservatives are undoubtedly trying to strike early in the race to sign up the older voter. However, all is not sweetness and light, as a recent poll by Lord Ashcroft, former chairman of the Conservative Party highlighted the danger posed to the Conservatives by the switch of older voters from the Tory fold to that of the UKIP Party.
Concerned
What it clearly shows is that Cameron is concerned about the ‘drift’ of the older vote away from his party. In a recent interview on the Andrew Marr Show Cameron clearly stated that ‘He wants people, when they reach retirement, to know that they can have dignity and security in their old age.’
But as we all know actions speak louder than words – just look at the frightening statistics for pensioner poverty!
Your thoughts?
So what do you think? Will the ‘triple lock’ assurance go some way towards winning your vote, or is there much more that you want to see the Government do to help pensioners? This will be a big topic in the run up to the 2015 election and here at Mature Times we want to start debating this earlier rather than later – so do tell us what you want to see our politicians doing to help pensioners by writing to us, or emailing editorial@maturetimes.co.uk
