Local MP John McDonnell launches pensions campaign

The Government’s Pensions Bill is currently being debated by Parliament, and will be returning to the floor of the House of Commons for discussion by MPs in the next month.

This week John McDonnell MP has tabled an amendment to the bill to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

In the 1980s Mrs Thatcher abolished the link between increases in earnings and increases in pensions. This has meant that pensions have been increased each year by the rate of inflation, and not as in the past by the rate of earnings increase. As a result, pensioners have lost out on over £30 per week.

John has campaigned over the years with local and national pensioner organisations to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

John said “I am calling on all MPs from all political parties to support my amendment to the Pensions Bill to restore the link with earnings and rectify this injustice. The breaking of the link by Mrs Thatcher has meant that pensioners have not shared in the growth of the economy and have consistently missed out on a decent pension increase. Restoring the link is easily affordable and I am appealing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer not to block my amendment.”

submitted by John on 08 Feb 2007 at 11:40