This summer the Labour Party has announced 6 pledges that illustrate how a Labour government would do things differently. Unlike the Tories we would run our country in the interests of the many. Our fifth pledge is about protecting our pensioners by keeping the Winter Fuel Allowance, free TV licences and bus passes for passengers.
I believe that politicians should keep their promises. In the last Conservative manifesto they pledged:
“We will maintain all other pensioner benefits, including free bus passes, eye tests, prescriptions and TV licences”
Yet now free TV licences for the over 75s are being scrapped.
Labour would retain free TV licences, keep the he winter fuel allowance, which has done so much to reduce the need for elderly people having to make difficult choices about whether to keep warm. Free bus passes have also been essential both for pensioners enabling them to take a full part in the community. It also helps to boost bus services and ensure more routes are viable – absolutely crucial for more rural parts of Reading West, and important across our area.
These pensioner benefits crucial to ensuring dignity in retirement regardless of your background.
As a councillor responsible for ensuring adult social care I focused on ensuring dignity and independence for our older and disabled residents, and I would continue to stand up for the rights of our retired citizens as well as disabled residents.
