Pensioner tsar is ‘needed to pull two million out of poverty’

A pensioner tsar should be appointed to help pull two million older people out of poverty, ministers have been told.

Hiring a government commissioner to represent older people would also be in the interests of younger generations, Conservative MP Jo Gideon, argued.

Ms Gideon (inset), a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ageing and Old People, said the next government “must show leadership” to tackle the problem of pensioner poverty.

At an event in Parliament, she joined charity Independent Age in arguing for an advocate who could represent the interests of pensioners on a national level.

Independent Age is pushing for a UK-wide Commissioner for Older People and Ageing to advocate for issues relating to pensioners and elderly people as it highlighted rising levels of pensioner poverty. According to the organisation, there are around 350,000 more older people in poverty than in 2012-13 – amounting to more than two million overall.

The charity said the “damaging stereotype” that “everyone in later life is enjoying a comfortable retirement with a large pension pot” is not true.

Ms Gideon, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, said the work to tackle this should be “led by a UK commissioner for living and ageing well”.

She added: “The language we use and the expectations we have lend themselves to social tensions and intergenerational conflict. I’m sure you’ve all heard of older people being described as ‘bed blockers’ and occupying houses needed by younger generations or taking their jobs.

“I think the next government needs to be aspirational… because addressing the challenges of one generation addresses the challenges of others.

“It needs to create trust and communication across the narrow confines of work, housing, education, health and environment.”