Tonia Antoniazzi MP shows support for Independent Age’s “Two million, too many” campaign on tackling pensioner poverty

Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Member of Parliament for Gower showed her support for pensioners in poverty at an event on Tuesday 16 April in Westminster to discuss the needs of the almost two million older people living in poverty  in the UK.
 
The event, Pensioner poverty: what the next government should do, was hosted by a cross party group of MPs on behalf of charity Independent Age.
 
Latest government figures show that 1 in 6 older people are currently living in poverty and without government intervention, the charity says there is a real risk of a future surge in pensioner poverty. Independent Age’s own analysis revealed that those approaching retirement are struggling financially, with 18% of people aged 60-64 living in deep poverty.
 
The event coincided with the launch of the charity’s Two Million Two Many campaign which is calling on all political parties to fix the system that has left too many older people living on the brink. Independent Age is asking the next government to focus on four key issues. These include establishing an adequate income needed to avoid poverty in later life, providing older people with long-term support so they can pay for essential household goods, improving the private rental sector and amplifying the voices of older people by creating a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing.
 
Speaking after the event, Tonia Antoniazzi MP said:
“Today’s event highlighted the many issues that older people in poverty in the UK are facing from money worries to housing issues. We all deserve to be able to age well with dignity, which is why we must work together to lift as many older people out of poverty in Gower as we can.”
 
Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said:
“We’re really pleased that Tonia came along to learn more about pensioner poverty. Too many older people are living in financial hardship and the cost-of-living crisis has decimated budgets up and down the country. We are receiving regular heartbreaking calls from older people making dangerous cutbacks, from eating just one meal a day to washing less to save on water. By working together, we have a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of older people in the UK now and in the future.”