Government lets down local pensioners - Liberal Democrats

8.02.00pm GMT Tue 27th Jan 2009

Kevin Lang is fighting for a fairer deal for local pensioners.

Liberal Democrats in the Edinburgh North & Leith constituency have slammed new figures that show older pensioners are being forced to spend as much as 40% of their weekly income on essentials including food and fuel.

New information released by the Office of National Statistics have shown that households with pensioners over 75 are spending 40% of their average £218 weekly expenditure on essentials.

Local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang, who has been campaigning for a fairer deal for local pensioners said,

"Labour have let down pensioners badly. After a lifetime of contributing to the country, older people deserve better than being forced to claim complicated means tested benefits. Many are struggling with rising fuel and food bills, which are now eating up a huge amount of their weekly incomes.

"This Labour Government must do more to help pensioners. We need to see the link between pensions and earning restored as soon as possible. Scrapping the unfair council tax and replacing it with a fairer system that is based on people's ability to pay, would also help thousands of pensioners in North Edinburgh and Leith."