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Grey Army Gears Up
By Alison Benjamin, The Guardian
January 14, 2004
No one can accuse pensioners of being slow off the mark. With 18 months still to go before an expected general election, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) is issuing a draft manifesto later this month.
Public transport, TV licences, internet access, comprehensive health checks and personal care are just some of the services it will call on all political parties to make free of charge to Britain's 11 million pensioners.
It wants a 36% increase in the basic state pension to income support levels, with the scrapping of relief on private pensions - which costs £14bn a year - to foot the £8bn bill, and a national older person's commission to scrutinise the impact of legislation on them. It is also expected to call for the council tax to be replaced by a fairer system.
The NPC claims the manifesto will be the biggest ever pensioner consultation exercise. Copies are being sent to its 1.5 million members, who will have until May to add their own ideas. MPs will then be asked to back the final version - or face pensioners' wrath at the ballot box.
The mobilisation of the grey vote comes as pensioners' action groups around the country get set for a demonstration in central London on Saturday against the council tax, and prepare to field their own candidates in local elections.
"Pensioners are angry and impatient for change," says Joe Harris, general secretary of the NPC. "Older people often feel their views are ignored by those in power, but, for the first time, the launch of a pensioners' manifesto will give them a chance to be at the heart of the political process."
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