Sturgeon’s ‘failure’ over pensions
NICOLA Sturgeon has been accused of highlighting her own failure to tackle inequalities after she made a ‘bizarre’ attack on the UK Government over pension payouts.
The Deputy First Minister claimed Scots are being cheated out of £11,000 on average because they die earlier than people in other parts of the UK, who benefit from different health policies.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats said Miss Sturgeon was attempting to cash in on health inequalities rather than tackle them.
The row comes as experts warn that Scotland will face a pensions crisis as its elderly population grows, while the numbers working decline.
Jim Hume, Scottish Liberal Democrats health spokesman, said: ‘People are dying earlier in Scotland and the first instinct of the Nationalists appears to be to hit the calculator to work out how much pension they’ll miss out on.
‘Most people will think the bigger priority is working out how we can help more people live longer, healthier lives with their families.’
Pensioner’s Rights Secretary Shona Robison walked into a barrage of criticism over the claims.
She has said that, following a Yes vote, an independent commission would be launched to consider not raising the retirement age to 67 in 2026, at the same time as the UK Government.
Iain Gray, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman, said: ‘Is this the best Shona Robison can come up with in her new role? It seems bizarre that she and her Scottish Government colleagues think it suitable to suggest that in an independent Scotland we would have access to our pensions earlier as long as we continue to die sooner.’
The Scottish Government claims people in Glasgow miss out most on pensions, with men losing £29,000 on average, and women £22,000.
Miss Robison said: ‘The lower life expectancy in Scotland means it would be fairer for people in Scotland if the increase in the pension age was postponed. That is why it is right for Scotland to consider a state pension age relatively lower than the rest of the UK.’
Miss Sturgeon added: ‘Social protection spending, which includes pensions and welfare, is more affordable in Scotland than in the rest of the UK – and has been lower for the last five years.’