- Conference
- 2025 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 6 June 2025
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Following the release of the UK Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February 2025, Age UK published research (March 2025) into the links between digital exclusion in later life and levels of deprivation.
Conference notes that the research revealed that 1 in 3 (31%) over 60s – equivalent to 5.1 million people – say life is much harder compared to five years ago because the things they want to do are online. Previous research had shown that 2.7 million people aged 60 and over do not use the internet and are therefore struggling to access many services that they rely on, such as:
• GP online triage and appointment systems
• Banking, following the mass closures of town centre branches
This conference believes that those who cannot or do not want to get online should still be able to access the support and services they need.
The Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, states, “Digital exclusion can take many forms. Whether you lack access to a stable and affordable internet connection, the right sort of device, or the skills needed to complete tasks confidently and safely online, the consequences can be devastating. It is harder to search for and apply for jobs. Goods and services are more expensive if you cannot access online deals. Accessing essential services takes longer.”
Conference is concerned that while the Government’s Action Plan seeks to reduce digital exclusion and mentions older people as one of the main groups being excluded, there are few if any practical actions to address this.
The current BT ‘digital voice’ programme of switching landlines from analogue to digital connections via the internet has exacerbated digital exclusion for many older people, especially those connected to helpline services. Older and vulnerable people are being forced to sign up to Internet Service Providers at a time when the cost of living for essentials such as food and heating continues to rise at an alarming rate.
Many older people do not have access to the internet via laptops or smartphones and the closure of public libraries and cuts in opening times has also had a detrimental effect on access to free and supported access to the internet, particularly for older people.
This conference calls on the National Retired Members Committee to:
i) Support Age UK, the Digital Poverty Alliance and local Community groups in highlighting the issues of digital exclusion and to support their call for government help, specifically tailored for older people, to access the support and services they need alongside increasing the number of devices available to community groups and disadvantaged individuals;
ii) Seek the support of the National Executive Council and work with Labour Link to lobby the Labour Party and raise awareness of the issue of digital exclusion for older people and to campaign for government help, specifically tailored for older people;
iii) Call on TUC, Age UK, NPC, Scottish Pensioners Forum and other relevant pensioner organisations to raise awareness and campaign on these issues;
iv) Encourage regional and branch retired members groups to highlight the issue and lobby local MPs campaign for government help, specifically tailored for older people to address digital exclusion.