Labour's pensions policy a failure, say Dundee Liberal Democrats

8.57.55am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Jul 2006

Charlton says, ''Labour's pensions policy a failure''

News that the Labour Government's proposals to reform the UK pensions system will benefit the rich more than the poor shows the failure of Labour's pensions policy, a Dundee Liberal Democrat spokesperson said today (Friday 21st July 2006).

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) said the reforms put forward in the pensions white paper would change the overall income distribution of older people very little.

Dundee Liberal Democrat local party secretary Michael Charlton said, ''Labour's record on pensions has been a real failure. The need to help those with the least resources should be the paramount issue, but not for New Labour it would seem.''

Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, David Laws MP, said, ''Not only will the government proposals do little to help today's pensioners, but they fail to provide the solid foundation needed to get more people to make pension provisions of their own.

''The government proposals fail to simplify our ludicrously complex pensions system and do not offer adequate funding for a decent state pension for all.''

Related Links:

'Poor could lose out in pensions reform' - Guardian.

New report highlights failings of pension reforms - Laws.