Birmingham pensioners stage protest rally over weekly pay

Apr 19 2009 by Jonny Greatrex, Sunday Mercury

FURIOUS pensioners descended on Birmingham city centre yesterday demanding that the Government DOUBLES their basic pension.

They held a rally outside the Council House in Victoria Square and called for politicians to give old people their dignity back by boosting their income.

The protest was organised by the West Midland Pensioners’ Convention which wants to see weekly payments rise from £95.25 to at least £165.

“We are not prepared to let the economic crisis undermine our claim,” spokesman Ron Dorman said. “Societies are judged by the way they treat the elderly and the young. All pensioners should be given at least £165 without going through the indignity of means testing.

“We must be as determined to protect our pensions as Sir Fred Goodwin has been to protect his. Pensioners should not have to worry about switching on the heating or buying nourishing food.”

Mr Dorman said at least one in four old people was living below the poverty line while millions more were struggling to meet the rising cost of living.

He also wants to see the link between earnings and state pensions reinstated.

“We are calling on the Government to raise the basic state pension above the poverty level and increase it every year with average wages or inflation, whichever is greater,’’ he said.

“If the Government can find hundreds of billions of pounds to bail out banks they can find the money to give everyone a decent state pension.”