Now, with the election behind us, and the parties sit back to reflect that they were in fact able to contain the ‘pensioner question’ in a pretty low profile, with some rather tame and obscure offers thrown into the arena to keep the peace – the current ‘Pensioners Parliament’ took up the post election challenge on behalf of 11 million pensioners – and made a historic decision to formulate the pre election ‘Pensioners Manifesto’ into a ten point ‘Charter’ on which to fight for better conditions.
With active pensioners, joining in the traditional march, from the prom through to the Blackpool Winter Gardens – and three and a half thousand of them settling down for a three day run at putting their world in order, the conference got off to a lively start. The guest speaker up from London was the new Pensions Minister – Stephen Timms, MP. First acknowledging that pensioners had earned their right to retire with dignity – he went on to spell out the Governments past and future plans for the retired.
Insisting – against much disagreement from the floor - that the initial help in the form of the Minimum Incomes Guarantee and the later Pension credit routines plus the winter fuel payments, the free TV at age 75 and the Council tax support payments had helped the very worst off, and all the future plans for pensioners were on track and would be revealed after the current Independent Pension Commission report was published in the Autumn, the audience as one took on a chant, rightly so, against the much hated means testing these benefits carried with them.
Demands from the floor to keep manifesto promises of 1997 with substantial increases for ALL pensioners – and the important matter of TRUST were fierce talking points to and from the platform. Mr Timms (only in office a short while) seemed to be under the impression that the ‘ring fenced’ National Insurance fund – standing at a present surplus of £34bn – and rising in ten years to £60bn (Government actuary personnel figures) – was in fact being utilised by sections of the NHS and the care and social services branches of the Government and not just ‘sloshing around’.
With the present surplus in that important fund, a rise in all pensions to £109 pw was entirely possible immediately – and the National Pensioners Convention will be pressing this claim, and putting our Mr. Simms right on that point at least! He did at least agree that the link between pension rates and earnings should be restored – he asked the delegates to acknowledge the Governments progress, and its long term answers to many present upsets, and was firmly informed that by the time these plans were formulated – most of this audience would not be around to benefit – and something should be done right now – for us.
During these hectic knock about exchanges with the Minister – Tony Blair was referred to as the “son of Maggie”, some of the many factors pointed out were that we have two million pensioners on the poverty line or below, the withdrawl of pension books was carried out without consultation. Finally, admitting he was indeed the servant of the general public (as opposed to our master) he was sincerely requested to do our bidding ! - he retired after his short appearance - in the direction of London !
The main thrust of the Parliamentary business however, after the resignation and retirement speech of Rodney Bickerstaffe, and the introductory speech of the new NPC president, Frank Cooper, was to be outlined by Joe Harris the General Secretary.
This was that the hugely successful ‘Pensioners manifesto’ which met with great cross-party approval at Westminster before the election and carried a 200 signature to bring about an early day motion approval, would now go forward, in simplified form to become a historic, and first ever, ‘Pensioners charter’.
This was the new weapon on which active pensioners will fight for their aims and dignified rights, listing ten deeply important and much needed points in favour of contented, free and dignified retirement for all. Calling for instance for a basic state pension set above the official poverty level and aligned to average male earnings, continued free health care treatment based on clinical need and an annual comprehensive check, our free nationwide travel facility on all public and local transport , free education and access to participation in leisure and cultural activities and such things as advocacy, dignity respect and fair treatment in all aspects of pensioners lives, with benefits, goods and services without age or sex discrimination.
This first ever pensioners charter will be presented and pressed to politicians in ongoing considerations of the future of the 11 million pensioners – who it must be remembered are the age group which do go out and cast their votes at elections!.
Along with the charter – goes a pensioners national DAY OF ACTION on October 12. London will experience a mass lobby of MPs at Westminster on the pensioners charter contents, and coachloads of senior citizens, with fire in their bellies and resolve in their breasts will descend on Westminster from all over the country, lobbying their individual MPs. It is hoped that assistance from the TUC may be able to help finance some of this long distance transport, with aid from individual unions.
Meanwhile other ‘events’ will be staged to an enthusiastic, but lesser degree in towns and Cities up and down the country. Members need to give thought to the kind of gauntlet which pensioners can throw down by way of legal protest, on this and future demonstrations.
It will focus attention to pensioners urgent needs in this country, where, following the regretful and upsetting loss of 3,500 lives in the USA in the ‘twin towers’ disaster, which carried world wide sympathy – and rightly so – was followed by a winter in which ten thousand of our UK pensioners died of hypothermia, with very little or no comment.
Day two of the Parliament was devoted to various ‘workshops’ on no fewer than twelve subjects of concern, for debate and discussion (including lunch time sessions) towards the new ‘Pensioners charter’ to incorporate more of the thoughts from the grass roots members across the country. These were fiery and hotly debated topics carried out in various conference halls and theatres within the ‘Winter Gardens’ complex, freely given us by Blackpool Corporation annually.
Finally on day three, after reports back from the workshops, Joe Harris, the General Secretary, launched the historic ‘Pensioners Charter’ with which we can pursue the causes we cherish up and down the corridors of power with powerful voices. |
