Plaid has increased its attack on the London parties for their lack of action on pensioner poverty – saying that all 3 have betrayed the most vulnerable elderly people by refusing to promise a state pension that is sufficient to live on.
Plaid Candidates today signed a pledge to stand up for the needs of pensioners – saying that Plaid’s living pension policy should be the starting point for relieving pensioner hardship.
According to one scenario, forecast by ‘Ofgem’, winter fuel prices could increase by 60% by the year 2016. Such forecasts will bring further concern to pensions already struggling to cope with the high cost of domestic fuel. Thousands of pensioners die every winter, because the current state pension doesn’t enable them to heat their homes and put food on their plates.
Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Cynon, Dafydd Trystan Davies, said:
“The 3 London parties have decided that the plight of our poorest pensioners is not a priority. All three believe that replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system is more important than some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. It’s a betrayal of thousands of people who have paid taxes their whole life in order to get a decent state pension.
“Like all Plaid Cymru candidates, I pledge to stand up and fight for our pensioners who are being left high and dry by the London parties. This is one of the most pressing issues that government on a UK level has to deal with, and it’s getting worse.
“Nobody can be sure how domestic fuel prices will rise over the coming years, but Ofgem’s forecast is extremely worrying. With this in mind, it’s astounding that the London parties will not take action to help pensioners now.
“The more Plaid MPs we have following this election, the stronger our voice will be to fight for a state pension that people can actually live on.”
