The Tory’s rash and aggressive Brexit threatens not just our economic and social stability, but pensions, retirement, and the quality of life of elder people.
The state pension ‘triple lock’, which guarantees pensions rise as prices do, could be threatened as Brexit weakens our economy. The current government has offered no promise of protecting the triple lock in the upcoming general election. There is no sign this will change.
As the pound decreases in value, basic products, energy costs and living expenses become more expensive and less sustainable. People who have invested for their retirement would suffer huge losses from any crash in the market, and those using income draw-down, in which money is invested in less stable funds, could find their savings demolished.
Elder people who have emigrated face an uncertain future after Brexit, which can only be made more unstable by burning our bridges to Europe, and destabilising freedom of movement for ex-pats across the continent. There are 1.3 million expats Britons abroad, who risk not receiving increases to their state pensions as our economy weakens.
It is irresponsible to endorse an extreme Brexit in the face of these concerns. For those who have retired to other EU countries, it will take time, effort and diplomacy to redefine their status, ensure their rights of movement, and create positive and considered arrangements for paying pensions, access to healthcare, and other services and rights.
The Green Party believe in maintaining positive trade, social and political relations with Europe to ensure the promotion of universal values, including protection of the vulnerable and environmentally responsible protection of the economy that works for all. This is why we are calling for a referendum on the terms of any deal on Europe, working to protect pensions, and the quality of life of older people.
– Lizzy Ridout