A state pension of £170 per week is what all older people deserve, says Caroline

The Green Party today becomes the only political party to back demands for a state pension of £170 per week and a better future for older people in Britain.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader and parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion constituency, said:

"After a lifetime of hard work and contributing to society, pensioners deserve better than having to scrape by on an inadequate state pension.

"It's only fair that the basic state pension should be enough to live on - that is why Greens would make sure that all pensioners receive a non-means-tested £170 per week, as well as free social care for all who need it, as is currently offered in Scotland."

The figure of £170 per week is calculated as the minimum required to keep the basic state pension above the official poverty line, according to the National Pensioners' Convention, in their Pensioners' Manifesto, which calls for a range of measures to improve conditions for older people.

Caroline, who is tipped by pollsters to become the MP for Brighton Pavilion, continued:

"Here in Brighton, we have a growing number of pensioners who in the coldest months of the year have had to decide between heating their homes and eating properly.

"Under Green proposals this would no longer be the case; not only would we increase payments to pensioners significantly, but we would provide free insulation for every home in Britain, making it easier for pensioners in Brighton to heat their homes, and ease reliance on winter fuel payments."

In addition to raising pensioners above the poverty line, the Greens are pledging to end the default retirement age, so that people have the freedom to go on working and contributing to society if they wish to, free from discrimination on the basis of age.

For more information please call the Brighton and Hove Green Party office on 01273 766 670

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