Local pensioners deserve better

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 2nd Jul 2005

MARK HUNTER is pledging to be a champion for local pensioners if he becomes our new local MP. Older people in our area have been let down by both Conservative and Labour Governments.

Mark Hunter said, "Many local pensioners remember that it was the Conservative Government that broke the earnings link with pensions. Many are still angry at Labour's insulting 75p a week rise in pensions in 2000."

Charles Kennedy's Lib Dems have a three point plan for improving the lives of local pensioners.

The Lib Dems want to improve the basic pension by £100 a month starting with over 75s. They will abolish the Council Tax and lastly they will introduce free care for the elderly - so pensioners will no longer be forced to sell their homes to pay for care.

Mark Hunter said, "As our local MP I will fight hard to get the fair deal that local pensioners deserve."