Janice R. Andrews
Labour has raised alarms about a possible “pension black hole” of £46 billion as worries about the government’s plans for retirement age grow. After Chancellor Rishi Sunak avoided answering inquiries regarding the prospect of extending the retirement age to 75, the level of worry reached a climax.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned Sunak over suggestions made by former Tory Brexit minister Lord Frost during contentious exchanges during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Frost proposed an increase in the retirement age as a way to counter the Conservatives’ proposed budget.
Sir Keir put pressure on the Prime Minister to provide clarification, requesting that he categorically deny the notion of making individuals substantially postpone retirement. Sunak, however, refrained from responding directly, choosing instead to attack Sir Keir’s own pension-related scandals.
Labour quickly took advantage of Sunak’s avoidance, with Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth MP denouncing the Chancellor for not explicitly ruling out raising the retirement age. When Sunak warned of the impending difficulties for retirees and pensioners, Ashworth accused her of following an underfunded, irresponsible agenda reminiscent of Liz Truss.
Pensioners and soon-to-be retirees are in a state of uncertainty due to the government’s lack of clarification, and there are still unanswered issues regarding the impact on the state pension. Labour promises to hold Sunak and the Tories responsible and will not stand by while pensioners suffer any longer as a result of the government’s dithering and inactivity.
