Tory Government ‘Rejects’ Age Discrimination Petition

The Silver Voices campaign group have expressed deep consternation at the recent rejection of their petition by the UK Tory Government.

So, where exactly does Southport’s Tory MP Damien Moore stand on this important issue of discrimination against elderly people in the UK?

Southport Labour highlighted pensions and Mr Moore’s position in 2021, saying…

‘Conservative MP for Southport -Damien Moore, voted today to remove our pensioners Triple Lock. Southport has one of the highest proportions of over 65s in the country. This is what the MP thinks of pensioners. Another broken manifesto pledge!’

https://twitter.com/SouthportLabour/status/1460375988945174528/photo/1

NB. A triple lock was introduced to the UK state pension in 2010. It was a guarantee that the state pension would not lose value in real terms, and that it would increase at least in line with inflation. To make the guarantee even more secure, it included three separate measures of inflation (hence ‘triple lock’).

Silver Voices stated the following:

DISDAINFUL REJECTION OF AGE DISCRIMINATION PETITION

‘The Cabinet Office has responded to our petition calling for a Public Inquiry into age discrimination and ageism in the UK in a perfunctory and disdainful manner. The Government was forced to make an official response as signatures had passed the 10,000 mark. Many members have already expressed their disgust at the Government reply by emailing the office.

Our petition had highlighted the results of our survey revealing widespread age discrimination in society, our concerns over the drive by businesses and public bodies to force people to use smartphone apps to access services, and the failure of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to grasp the scale of the problem.

The Cabinet Office clearly feels that no action is required to address these concerns. The response, which you can read in full on the link below, states that there is “an existing robust framework for age discrimination”, that a Public Inquiry is not necessary, and that older people can challenge unlawful behaviour in the courts. The widespread discrimination in the finance and insurance sectors is justified, and the role and powers of the EHRC are spelled out, without comment on how they are failing to use them.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/639611

The Government will live to regret this insulting response. Silver Voices will continue to campaign on all aspects of age discrimination up to, and beyond, the next General Election, and we will be expecting politicians to listen to our concerns before they can win our votes. In particular, we need recognition that the technology revolution is leaving millions behind as digitally excluded second class citizens. Watch this space for further campaign initiatives in the autumn.’

13 August 2023

See also Age Discrimination Survey by Silver Voices.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-2GmwtZSZ2o1uxDPha9Z3hA_3D_3D

Members and supporters of this ill-considered government decision should hold their heads down in shame. Elderly people in the UK need full support – not official rejections from self-seeking and out of touch politicians!

More info: https://silvervoices.co.uk/