Not survive until 75 at work’
shattered their retirement plans. ‘In 2017 the independent Cridland Report recommended that 10 years’ notice should be given for forthcoming rises, and that it should not increase more than one year in any ten year period. ‘We hope the government has learned its lesson from the shocking impact of previous changes on Waspi women’s lives and does not accept these proposals.’ According to the Office for National Statistics’ latest localised average life expectancy figures, men in Portsmouth would have three-and-half years’ retirement to enjoy the spoils of their pension pot if the state pension age was raised to 75.
Meanwhile, the life expectancy for women in the city currently sits four years higher, at 82.7.
The Labour MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said the hike would ‘decimate the plans and dreams of thousands of people across the nation’ at a time when scores already face losing their free television licences.
‘The notion that state pension age should be raised to boost our economy, suggested by the inaptly named Conservative think tank the Centre for Social Justice is both morally repugnant and an insult to the generation to whom we all owe so much,’ he said.
‘The fact the Ian Duncan Smith, who co-founded the think tank, backed the current prime minister’s leadership bid and served as his campaign chairman is something we should be particularly wary of.
‘We have already seen the Conservatives flagrantly disregard a manifesto pledge to safeguard benefits for pensioners with the TV licence. We cannot tolerate another attack on older people in our communities.’
To access the Ageing Confidently report, visit tinyurl.com/y2rao4bn
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