- Conference
- 2022 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 15 June 2022
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes:
– The emergence of a significant rate of inflation in the economy
– The proposed increase in energy prices (gas and electricity)
– The National Insurance increase by 1.25 percentage points
– The six largest energy companies made in excess of £1billion profit in 2021 Whilst recognising that many older people do not pay National Insurance, this government has reneged on their election promise to safeguard the triple lock pension thereby negating any perceived benefit gained from not paying NI
This and the other above stated factors will increase pensioner poverty and the measurers proposed by the Government to mitigate this situation are wholly inadequate. Groups within the over 60’s range such as the WASPI women will be particularly at risk.
Conference therefore calls upon the National Retired Members Committee with a request to formulate a plan involving all Regional Retired Members Committees, Regional Councils and Service Groups to campaign for the following:
i)Adequate measures to protect older people from pensioner poverty as a result of this situation
ii) A guaranteed commitment, rather than a platitude from the government to reinstate the triple lock pension next year and in subsequent years
iii) Re-nationalisation of the Gas and Electric companies in order to end the accumulation of massive profits by the rich at the expense of consumers, and to enable a planned approach which would include a reserve fund to enable prices to be subsidised during periods of high wholesale energy prices.