SNP manifesto: what it means for older people

We have now launched our manifesto for the General Election on 8 June. It sets out how we will ensure that there is strong opposition to a re-elected and increasingly hard line Tory government at Westminster.

Here’s how strong SNP voices will stand up for older people at Westminster.

 

  • With pensioner poverty on the rise, we will oppose any attempt by the Tories to end the Triple Lock on pensions. This will ensure the State Pension continues to rise by inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent – whichever is highest.

 

  • SNP MPs will continue to fully support the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign in their efforts to secure fairness for the women born in the 1950s shortchanged by the accelerated increase in the pension age for women.

  • SNP MPs will call on the UK government to increase health spending per head of population in England to the current Scottish level. This would increase the health budget in England by £11 billion more than inflation by 2022 – meaning £1 billion of extra funding for Scotland’s NHS.

 

  • SNP MPs will oppose plans to increase the State Pension Age beyond 66. We’ll also support the establishment of an Independent Savings and Pension Commission, to ensure pensions and savings policies are fit for purpose and reflect the demographic needs of different parts of the UK.

 

  • Pension auto-enrolment has ensured that more workers benefit from regular pension savings. SNP MPs will call for the UK government to take steps to extend this policy so that more low paid, and self-employed, workers can benefit.

 

  • The SNP will seek to ensure that regular, simple, and affordable saving schemes are offered to provide for a secure income in retirement. SNP MPs will call for an end to Tory gimmicks like the Lifetime ISA, which can disincentivise other forms of retirement savings that offer a greater return.

 

  • The SNP Scottish Government is developing a Financial Health Check service to help pensioners and those on low incomes make the most of their money and to secure the best energy tariffs and access to bank accounts. We will call on the UK government to do likewise.

  • SNP MPs will support an energy price cap on standard variable tariffs, ensuring a fair deal for customers and energy suppliers.

 

  • SNP MPs will seek presumptions against the closure of rural post offices – similar to the presumption against closing rural schools delivered by the Scottish Government – and seek to expand the services available, including local banking.

  • The SNP will act to ensure the UK government prioritises the duty of care to service personnel, veterans and their families, especially in the event of a loss of a serving relative, and we will press the UK government to put the Armed Forces representative body on a statutory footing.

Read our manifesto in full here.