SNP campaign on citizen’s pension
Single pensioners would be up to £174 a month better off under SNP plans to introduce a citizen’s pension and a local income tax, Alex Salmond said today.
The SNP leader is campaigning strongly on the issue and will take his message around Scotland today.
Mr Salmond said: “Under Labour and the Tories, pensioners have lost out significantly. The Conservatives cost our pensioners thousands when they cut the link with earnings. They have fared little better under Labour who failed to restore the link and introduced the disastrous system of means testing for a decent pension.
“The SNP will abolish Labour’s unjust and costly system of means testing that denies one quarter of pensioners the money they are due and leaves one pensioner in five living in poverty.”
Labour says that means testing has helped ensure that resources are targeted at the poorest pensioners and has raised many out of poverty. The Conservatives say they would reduce means testing and raise the basic state pension.
