SNP candidate for Stirling Alyn Smith has pledged to fight for a better State Pension than the UK Government currently offers if elected next month.
Mr Smith has highlighted that the current rate of State Pension in the UK is the lowest in the developed world.
As a percentage of working-age earnings, the OECD average for State Pensions is 62.9%. The UK State Pension is just 29% of working-age earnings, a similar rate to that of Mexico.
SNP MPs will:
- Support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign.
- Fight to protect the triple lock increase on pensions.
- Oppose a rise in State Pension age beyond 66.
- Campaign to increase State Pension to £355 per week, in line with EU average.
Commenting, Alyn Smith said:
“Older people want the security of a decent pension in later years, and frankly are being let down by successive UK Governments.
“The fact that the UK Government gives older citizens the lowest State Pension rate in the developed world is something to be ashamed of, and is something that we must address and rectify.
“This is an election about a number of headline-grabbing issues, but older people want to know that the person next elected is someone who will stand up for them instead of for Boris Johnson and the Tory government’s attack on pensions.
“If elected, I will oppose any moves from the Tory government to increase the State Pension age to 75 and I will back the WASPI campaign demanding that the UK government provide the pension that women born in the 1950s deserve.
“I will also fight to protect the triple lock on pension increases to ensure that the current rate cannot be devalued in real terms due to inflation, and I will campaign for a State Pension that matches the OECD average of £355 per week as opposed to the current £168 maximum.
“Older generations have given so much to our country and our society. It is right that they are treated with dignity and respect in later years, and that is what SNP MPs will do if elected on December 12.”
FT coverage on UK pension rate:
https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2018/02/13/uk-state-pension-worst-in-the-developed-world/