Chancellor must not be allowed to break pensions consensus - Jo

4.27.15pm GMT Mon 5th Dec 2005

Jo Swinson MP today warned Chancellor Gordon Brown against blocking pensions reform away from the means-tested model following last week's publication of the Turner report.

Jo will seek to question the Chancellor during Treasury Questions in the House of Commons next Thursday:

"The Turner report represents an unmissable opportunity to secure much-needed reform of Britain's complex and inadequate pensions system. Lord Turner has reflected a very broad national consensus by proposing a simpler and improved state pension, linked to earnings, rather than the current reliance on means-testing and complexity.

"The Prime Minister must not allow one man, Gordon Brown, to veto pensions reform. It is simply unthinkable that we could end up with 75% of pensioners on means-tested benefits, as Gordon Brown seems to think acceptable."

Related Link:

Summary of the Pensions Commission report