Labour launches national state pensioner age tour in Calderdale

Debbie Abrahams, The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP visited the Calder Valley constituency – won by the Conservatives by only 609 votes in June’s General Election – to discuss how a future Labour government can provide dignity and security in retirement.

According to analysis by the Labour Party, tens of thousands of people in every constituency who are currently under 48-years-old will be affected by the Tories’ increase in the State Pension age, including 60,673 in Halifax and 53,103 in the Calder Valley constituency.

Debbie Abrahams, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said Labour has rejected this increase to the State Pension Age and instead is reviewing a flexible retirement age as part of the party’s Commission on Pensions.

“Thanks to the Tories increasing the State Pension age, 36.9 million people will be forced to work longer, at the same time that evidence indicates life expectancy has stalled in some places and is reducing in others.

“Conservative MPs must explain to the tens of thousands of people in their constituencies, why the burden of Tory austerity is being pushed onto them, while corporations and the richest individuals receive tax breaks.

“Theresa May should answer the 36.9 million people across Britain whose hard-earned retirements are being postponed because of her government.”