Liberal Democrats launch their Manifesto for Older People

5.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Mar 2005

Liberal Democrats launch their Manifesto for Older People

The Liberal Democrats have today launch the most comprehensive package of policies for older people of any major political party. It is aimed at lifting the most vulnerable pensioners out of poverty and ending the inherent unfairness of the system by bridging the historic gap between men and women.

Analysis of the three main parties' policies directed at older people reveals that they would benefit far more from the Liberal Democrat package, than from Conservative and Labour policies. Taking the status quo under Labour as a baseline, the Conservatives are offering older people an extra £2.3billion, while the Lib Dems are offering a package worth an extra £6.7billion.

The key Liberal Democrat policies include the creation of a Citizen's Pension, scrapping the unfair Council Tax, and free long-term personal care for the elderly. Launching the Liberal Democrat Mini-Manifesto for Older People, Charles Kennedy MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said "It's time that Britain's pensioners were treated with the respect they deserve by politicians. Our carefully costed package is worth nearly £7 billion a year over and above what Labour is currently offering to pensioners - and over £4 billion more than the Conservatives."

Mr. Kennedy further said "It is inexcusable that 2 million pensioners today live below the Government's own poverty line. And it is, quite simply, a scandal that many women pensioners are not entitled to a full basic state pension in their own right. Our promise, at this election, will be to add over £100 extra a month for a single pensioner over 75, and over £140 extra a month for a pensioner couple. That will make a real difference. Our plans to scrap Council Tax will benefit eight million pensioners, with six million paying no local tax at all. We need a new vision - one that treats our older citizens with respect.

Mr. Kennedy concluded by saying "This manifesto is designed to ensure both dignity and security in retirement. Our message to older citizens is that we understand our debt to you. It's time for a real alternative for older people. The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative."

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Liberal Democrats launch their Manifesto for Older People.