20/07/2017

Increase In State Pension Age Condemned

Sinn Féin has hit out at the DUP and the Tory government following a decision to increase the State Pension Age earlier than planned.

Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion condemned a decision to increase the pension age to 68 in 2037, rather than from 2044 as originally proposed, stating that the move would "undoubtedly lead to increased rates of poverty".

Ms McCallion said: "The Tories are yet again targeting people who are already struggling due to their austerity driven agenda. For many people, the stark reality is that the state pension age will now be higher than healthy life expectancy.

"It is also particularly cynical that they delayed making this announcement until after the election when they had originally been due to make their intentions known in May."

Ms McCallion also criticised the DUP for agreeing to prop up Theresa May's government.

She said: "The DUP represent a region that has the lowest life expectancy in these islands so today's announcement again exposes the folly of them giving the Tories a blank cheque to continue their destructive austerity policies." 

(MH/CD)

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