Report of the 16^th National Pensioners’ Parliament

3-5 June 2008, Winter Gardens, Blackpool
 

Over 2000 pensioners stopped the traffic for more than 20 minutes, as they marched through the streets of Blackpool to the Winter Gardens, for the opening of this year’s Pensioners’ Parliament. Led by the NPC’s Dixieland Jazz Band and with banners representing groups from every part of the country; the marchers were in determined mood to mark the continuing campaign for a decent state pension.

A packed Empress Ballroom was reminded of the unique role the Parliament plays in the pensioner movement’s development by providing an opportunity for people to discuss issues of concern, share ideas, find out new information, strengthen friendships and unite around common demands for action.

This sense of purpose was echoed by a statement of support from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, which emphasised the need to highlight the concerns of older people wherever possible.

As part of the Convention’s campaign to mark the centenary of the first state pension, the opening session was given over to paying tribute to the original pension pioneers and reaffirming the need to continue the campaign for today’s pensioners.

Theatrical group, Bloomsbury Voices, dressed in Victorian costume, outlined what life was like for those growing old in the early 1900s and explained how the struggle for the first pension of 5 shillings at 70 was only secured after a ten year campaign, led by the trade union movement of the day.

The important connection between today’s pensioners and today’s workers was also emphasised by the TUC’s deputy general secretary, Frances O’Grady. In addressing the delegates she said: “It seems to me that the least you deserve in return for a lifetime of work and contributing to society is decency and dignity and security in retirement. Don't let anybody tell us that in this ageing society this is somehow a luxury that our economy can't afford. With the fourth largest economy in the world the means are there to provide a good standard of living for all our citizens, whether they are young or old and all it needs is political will and political vision.”

As with the campaign a hundred years ago, the Liberal Democrats have added their support to the demand for a decent state pension. Their spokesperson, Danny Alexander MP, explained the importance of tackling pensioner poverty, particularly amongst older women.

Mr Alexander said: “We have a pension system designed to the detriment of women, a system that is disgraceful and discriminatory as it was all those years ago and whilst the government has introduced some welcome reforms, any reforms that retain such an inequitable system and continue to disadvantage far too many female pensioners cannot be considered a success.”

One of the NPC’s most vocal supporters in the House of Commons is the MP for Vauxhall, Kate Hoey. She drew warm applause from the delegates when she explained the need to improve the state pension now, rather than in 2012.

“I think the lessons for today can be learned from those lessons of hundred years ago. They probably felt the same anger and the same cynicism and same frustrations we are doing today and that’s because we can't get what we want. For instance, the link with earnings - we have to campaign. Both sides of the house are supporting bringing the link in as quickly as possible, but I would like to say, it could be brought back now,” she said.

Ms Hoey also emphasised the need for campaigning, saying: “Reform and justice: it's not achieved by just sitting back and hoping that the system will develop fairer policies, but it has to be campaigned and fought for collectively. There are 11 million pensioners in this country and people talk about the grey vote, and every political party knows you are important, but you have to make that importance and that power felt and you have to get really angry. The simple rule of politics is that battles and elections are won by those that turn out in the greatest numbers and make their voices heard.”

In closing the opening session, NPC general secretary Joe Harris tackled the myth that the country could not afford to improve the state pension.

Mr Harris said: “One hundred years ago they had to ask for the government to find the money for a state pension, but today the national insurance fund is one of the largest funds in the world, with a surplus of £46 billion, and in 2012 it will be £100+ billion. We could use a little bit of that surplus to immediately institute the link. But the politicians say “Oh no, we can't afford that until 2012!” It's nonsense. They think we are stupid. There is the money that is collected from employers and employees sitting in the fund. Yet, what happens to it? They can't get their hands on it because the legislation says they can't. But what they can do, is invest in guilt indexed securities and then use the money raised on other things. So what is this nonsense “we can't afford it”? With Northern Rock, nobody said "Oh sorry we can't afford it". And they can afford the millions to sort out the 10p tax fiasco. The difference is the government lacks the political will – not the money – to do anything to improve the state pension.”

The opening session closed with the premier of a specially commissioned piece of music, written by Michael Nyman and performed by the Wingates Band, entitled “The Battle for the Old Age Pension”.

During the second day, delegates discussed six separate health issues, including social and residential care, hospital care, mental health care, primary care and the role of carers. There were also expert guest speakers on hand to outline and debate some of the issues, from a range of organisations including the RCN, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Carers UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Age Concern, Help the Aged and Keep Our NHS Public.

It was noted by those attending from outside that the level of debate and contributions from the floor were very well informed.

In the evening, the traditional social achieved a new level of popularity when the Bachelors took to the stage and nearly brought the roof off the Winter Gardens!

On the last morning, sessions were held to discuss the latest campaigns on post offices, concessionary travel, council tax and age discrimination, with speakers from the CWU, Local Government Association and Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Delegates then returned to the main ballroom to hear reports from 5 regional parliaments which had taken place earlier in the year and a keynote speech from the NPC’s patron, professor Alan Walker from Sheffield University.

As always, his speech contained a number of useful facts and figures to support the argument for a better state pension.

Prof Walker said: “This is what it means to live in an age discriminatory society and there are plenty of other examples:

• 1.5 million suffer from fuel poverty (up by 25,000).

• Two fifths of older people live in housing that does not meet decency standards and one-third of vulnerable people aged 75 and over are in unfit housing (the worst housed sub-group).

• 3 million+ are socially excluded in some way.

• Worry about the future affects the health of 2.2 million.

• Nearly one in four do not heat a bedroom, bathroom or living room because of the cost.

• More than one-fifth feel a lack of dignity in hospital.

• One half of care homes fail to provide an adequate service for people with dementia.

• Malnutrition is a bigger problem among older people than obesity among the younger age group (including malnutrition in hospitals).

• The most vulnerable, who rely on social and nursing care are faced with means-tests and the need to sell their houses when they were led to expect care ‘from the cradle to the grave’.

• More than one in four spend less than £3.50 per day on food.

• One in seven pensioners have not had a meal out for more than a year and one-third have not had a holiday for 5 years.

• Two-thirds of older people live on less than £150 per week.

• It is calculated than the minimum income necessary for a healthy life in old age (adequate diet, nutrition, physical activity and social activities – not housing and CT) is £135.58 for a single person and £212.82 for a couple in 2007 prices. That is £21.53 and £36.77 per week more than the pension credit guarantee (at 2007 levels).

Prof Walker then reiterated the need to continue the campaign, saying: “You have to speak on behalf of all pensioners and especially the most hard pressed – those who cannot wait any longer for dignity and respect. The politicians need to know, on the one hand, that their priorities are wrong – why does this country spend twice as much on defence as long term care? Why isn’t there a national programme to prevent premature death and disability? Why are there tax cuts for the rich when there are pensioners living in poverty? Why not use the National Pension Saving Scheme to raise the basic pension?”

“On the other hand, we want a different society, one which values all citizens regardless of their age. So, delegates, we have a very big job to do. Not only do we need to persuade reluctant politicians and the media but there are also many older people who need persuading. The problem is that many pensioners have alarmingly low expectations (many do not expect a decent standard of living). This depression of expectations and aspirations is a major barrier in the pensions campaign.”

“All of us, the members of the NPC, must lead the campaign for justice in old age, just as our fore-runners did in the decade before 1908. We are not alone in this task: the general public supports this cause and there are very strong allies. So I hope that you will leave Blackpool in good spirits; proud of what you have achieved these past 3 days and energised to carry on the fight for what is right and just. Remember that you are not asking the earth, only dignity and respect, a decent standard of living for all pensioners.”

• Next year’s Pensioners’ Parliament will take place from 2-4 June 2009.

• A full transcript of the opening session, the centenary readings, notes of the main issues discussed at the six special health care sessions and the speech by NPC patron Prof Alan Walker are all available on request.

• Media reports of the Pensioners’ Parliament appeared on BBC Radio 2, 4 and 5, over 25 local radio stations and numerous local and regional newspapers.