TORIES JUST DON'T DELIVER FOR PENSIONERS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Apr 2005

Responding to the Conservative press conference on pensioners, Liberal Democrat Sam Potts said:

"The Tory plans on pensions, long term care and council tax demonstrate in the starkest possible terms the problems created by their planned spending cuts.

"They will barely scratch the surface of the poverty felt by many pensioners.

"Why should we be surprised when it was the Tories when they were last in government who broke the link between pensions and average earnings, spent 18 years devaluing the state pension, and took no action to stop companies taking pension holidays to the detriment of the private pensioner?

"They are doing nothing to reverse means-testing and will do nothing to improve incentives to save.

"In comparison the Liberal Democrats will give pensioners over 75 an extra £100 a month, lift one million pensioners out of means-testing, and end the unfair discrimination against women pensioners."

"The Tories also promise 'free' long term care, but people will have to pay their fees for three years or pay into an insurance policy to qualify for help. They will only benefit if they survive in care for over three years. Seven out of ten pensioners will die before they see the benefit. When do we hear them saying that?

"And half of all pensioners get no benefit from their half-baked council tax proposals. If you are under 65, if you live in the same household as someone under 65, if you live in Scotland and Wales, then you don't count in Conservative thinking.

"This is not treating people with dignity and respect, it is not treating them honestly. The Liberal Democrats have by far the most comprehensive package for older people, and the honesty to explain how it will be funded."

ENDS