Speaking up for pensioners

ESTHER Rantzen, the campaigning TV presenter, will be forever associated with ChildLine, the charity that continues to save countless youngsters from a lifetime of abuse and torment.

Yet is a sad reflection of poor care, and also an ageing society, that she now believes a parallel service should be launched for the elderly as instances of neglect continue to shock the nation.

It does not end here – the celebrity is one of 137,000 people who are advocating the creation of a Minister for Older People to champion senior citizens. They are now backed by the newly-published Our Retirement Nation report.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Perversely, this notion, which continues to gather momentum, is at odds with the views of most pensioners who would prefer to see a smaller state rather than the creation of yet another post (and generously paid pension) for a young career politician.

And, while David Cameron contends that every Minister should champion every section of society, the Prime Minister – like his predecessors – continues to make exceptions for children (Sarah Teather) and women (Theresa May).

He should now do the same for OAPs, even though the pension increase confirmed in the Autumn Statement was one of the most generous of recent times.

Ensuring that everyone can live with dignity in their retirement is one of the great issues of the time. It cannot be left to chance, with rival Whitehall departments playing “pass the parcel” as they struggle to meet their reduced spending targets.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For, not only does pensions policy need to be “fit for purpose”, but the many failings within the care system need to be addressed. Just because a frail individual is in their twilight years does not mean they should be neglected by carers, doctors or nurses who should know better – in many cases, the vulnerable depend on these “professionals” because they do not have relatives close at hand as families become more disparate.

With the future finance of care inextricably linked to the pensions shortfall, it makes even more sense for one Minister to be tasked with co-ordinating policy across every Whitehall department. After all, the Welfare State, at its advent, was supposed to offer care from the cradle to the grave.