SNP candidate Jim Mather, 8 th March 2000.
| 'New Labour's treatment of our senior citizens is reminiscent of the darkest days of Thatcherism.' SNP candidate Jim Mather, 8 th March 2000. | |
Jim Mather said the "paltry" rise of 73p a week in state old age pensions came at the same time as Labour-controlled South Ayrshire Council's closing of lunch clubs and the Carrick Street Day Centre which provided active care in the community.
Speaking during a visit to a nursing home in Symington, Mr Mather called for the living standards of Scottish pensioners to be brought into line with the higher standards enjoyed by their counterparts in the rest of Europe.
In Norway, pensioners' income was 60% of adult income, Ireland's figure was 64%, while Scottish pensioners, as part of the UK pension system, received only a "lowly" 45%.
"Our pensioners deserve better from Government after contributing to state resources for a lifetime," he said. "With average earnings running at 4%, there is no doubt that pensioners will lose out year-on-year if their annual increase is just above 1% - a miserly 73p."
Mr Mather claimed New Labour had turned its back on pensioners and Prime Minister Tony Blair was kidding himself if he thought he could continue to get away with this mistreatment.
"New Labour's treatment of our senior citizens is reminiscent of the darkest days of Thatcherism, but it is the cost of living under New Labour. One thing is for sure, the senior citizens of this constituency are queueing up to turn their backs on New Labour next Thursday," he claimed.
March 9 th 2000
Return to home page