‘No plans’ for pension age rise under Labour, wannabe benefits chief vows as Keir Starmer launches bid win over OAPs
LABOUR has “no plans” to raise the state retirement age again, the party’s pensions chief pledged today.
At a campaign event for OAPs in Bolton, Liz Kendall promised Sun readers she’ll unleash thousands of clogged up NHS appointments and kickstart a housebuilding blitz to help older renters onto the property ladder.
But she refused to follow the Tories by offering a golden tax break for silver haired Brits.
Under current government plans, the pension age will rise from 66 to 67 in 2026-28 and to 68 in 2044-46.
At the local Bridge Café, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary told The Sun “we've got no plans" to raise the state pension age beyond then.
“We always want to look at all of the evidence as is normally done. There's a normal process that you go through.
“I want people to have more years of good life.”
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It came as Sir Keir Starmer today launched his counter-offensive operation to win over elderly Brits.
Working pensioners saw an average £2,740 fall in their total net income after tax between 2021 and 2024.
And single retirees have been made worse off over this parliament, with average real-terms income falling between 2019 and 2023.
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The Labour chief joined Ms Kendall in Bolton to chat to OAPs about failing public services and the cost-of-living crisis.
He was also joined over coffee and cakes by Tory switcher and ex-MP for the area Mark Logan, who implored his former constituents to join him in giving Labour a go.
Ms Kendall blasted Rishi Sunak’s pledge to hike the personal allowance for pensioners, calling it a “total joke”.
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The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said: “Pensioners aren't fooled.
“They’ve seen the cost of living rise.
“We've got the highest tax burden for 70 years.
“So please don't give any end to this rubbish from the Tories that they're somehow going to be lowering taxes on pensioners.”
At the café elderly residents sounded convinced by Sir Keir and Ms Kendall’s pitch.
Mandy Snelgrove, a 77-year-old lifelong Tory voter said she’s opting for Labour this time because of out-of-control NHS waiting times.
Ms Snelgrove recently queued 12 hours at hospital before being sent home without being seen.
She said: "It's a bit of a mess, if I can say that. It's a bit of a big mess."
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Asked what she thought of Sir Keir, she smiled and added: "He's lovely. He's more handsome today than I thought.
“I think he's a very, very nice man."