OAPs demand state pension referendum

Published on Tuesday 2 January 2007 11:49

PENSIONERS in the Capital are joining calls for a national referendum to address the level of the state pension.

Edinburgh's pensioners' champion George Henderson will travel to London for the National Pensioners Convention Executive Council meeting called to plan action to seek justice for OAPs.

Plans for the campaign include a national referendum on whether the Government must address as a matter of urgency the level of the state pension and the delay in restoring the link to earnings.

The referendum would also consider the unfairness of council tax; the cost and quality of care and the loss of post offices and other local services.

Mr Henderson, vice president of the Transport and General Workers Union Retired Members Association and chairman of the National Pensioners Convention Scotland, said: "There is unprecedented anger and frustration among pensioners at the government's lack of action in a number of key areas of concern.

"This is because the recent Pensions Bill failed to offer anything of immediate benefit to today's 11 million pensioners, and the pre-Budget report ignored the calls to substantially increase the basic state pension."