Qurban Hussain – Lib Dems will vote against decrease in pension payments

The Liberal Democrats will tomorrow vote in Parliament against the decision to freeze state pension top-up payments this April, which will leave almost nine million pensioners worse off.

Last December Ministers set out plans to freeze payments of the State Earnings Related Pension and the Second State Pension, effectively cutting state pension payments by £515million next year.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb said:

“Labour has betrayed pensioners by promising to increase their pensions when millions are actually set to receive a real-term cut this year.

“Freezing pension top-up payments will leave almost nine million older people worse off at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet.

“Older people are already facing high fuel bills following this cold winter and rising inflation eroding their savings.

“The Liberal Democrats will vote against this latest example of the Government failing to give a fair deal to pensioners.”

Luton Liberal Democrat Councillor and Luton South PPC Qurban Hussain said:

“Today’s annoucement clearly demostrates how the Liberal Democrats are faimrly on the side of fairness. While other parties pay lip service to working for the most vulnerable in our community, the Liberal Democrats continue to fight for them”