Pensioners' Election Campaign seeks support in Ballymena

BALLYMENA was the first venue in the province on Friday for a roadshow highlighting a nation-wide pensioners' election campaign .

The Pensioners’ Manifesto Campaign visited the town directly after its launch on April 16 at The Braid Centre where it was greeted by the Mayor, Councillor James Currie, councillors and local pensioners.

Supported by Age NI, Age Sector Platform, ICTU (NI) and National Pensioners’ Convention, the Manifesto sets out the demands of the older population and aims to harness the power of the ‘grey vote’ – giving the people who vote the most, something to vote about!

Ivan Baxter, a member of the Pensioners’ Manifesto group, said: “As part of this campaign, we will be travelling across Northern Ireland to ensure that older people from throughout the province are able to participate and lend their support.

“Our Pensioners’ Manifesto lays out, in no uncertain terms, the needs and demands of the older population in Northern Ireland. It is the duty of our local candidates to consider these demands when standing for election as MPs to Westminster this year.

“It is now up to older people in Northern Ireland to inform their local candidates seeking election of their needs. Consequently, our politicians must see the merit in what we are asking for and adopt some of our points into their own election manifestos,” he said.

As part of the Pensioners’ Manifesto campaign, the roadshow has been organised with a campaign bus travelling across Northern Ireland for two weeks in April, and all older people are encouraged to attend their local event.

At each event, postcards detailing the Pensioners’ Manifesto will be distributed (copies available by telephoning 028 09312089) and local political representatives have been invited to attend.

An online petition has also been created as part of the unique campaign. Those in support of the manifesto can sign their name at www.pensionersmanifesto.org.

The Manifesto reads...

‘All men and women shall be entitled to dignity, security, and fulfilment in retirement.

We therefore demand that politicians should:

1.Commit to the eradication of pensioner poverty by:

lIncreasing the basic state pension, paid alongside other existing entitlements to provide some financial security for all.

lRestoring the link with the higher of earnings or prices.

lBringing forward the automatic payments of benefits.

2.Increase the winter fuel grant to reflect the high energy prices and introduce a system to review the amount each year in relation to energy costs.

3.Provide improved access to quality social and long-term care to maintain dignity in advanced years.

4.End unfair discrimination where it adversely affects the opportunities, goods and services available to older people’.

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