This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/22/british-pensioners-europe-hardship-committee-told

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
British pensioners in Europe struggle to make ends meet, committee told British pensioners in Europe struggle to make ends meet, committee told
(32 minutes later)
British pensioners in Europe are not sipping prosecco on a warm terrace but are struggling to make ends meet and fear further poverty because of Brexit, a parliamentary committee has been told.British pensioners in Europe are not sipping prosecco on a warm terrace but are struggling to make ends meet and fear further poverty because of Brexit, a parliamentary committee has been told.
Jeremy Morgan QC said retirees in the EU living exclusively or almost exclusively on British pensions have already suffered a decrease in their income because of the depreciation in sterling since the referendum.Jeremy Morgan QC said retirees in the EU living exclusively or almost exclusively on British pensions have already suffered a decrease in their income because of the depreciation in sterling since the referendum.
They were hit by a second blow last month when the government revealed it would not give a lifetime guarantee to index-link their pensions if the UK crashed out of the EU without a deal.They were hit by a second blow last month when the government revealed it would not give a lifetime guarantee to index-link their pensions if the UK crashed out of the EU without a deal.
“There is real hardship. The impression sometimes given by the tabloid press is that everyone on pension age living in the EU is supping prosecco on a terrace in Tuscany or something like that.“There is real hardship. The impression sometimes given by the tabloid press is that everyone on pension age living in the EU is supping prosecco on a terrace in Tuscany or something like that.
“There are huge numbers of people who made a very rational decision years ago to move because they could afford to move because they could make their pension go a bit further in countries like rural France or in Spain and they are in desperate straits because of this,” Morgan told peers on the House of Lords EU justice sub committee.“There are huge numbers of people who made a very rational decision years ago to move because they could afford to move because they could make their pension go a bit further in countries like rural France or in Spain and they are in desperate straits because of this,” Morgan told peers on the House of Lords EU justice sub committee.
The committee chair Lord Morris identified the pension issue as of “fundamental concern” to the 220,000 British pensioners living in the EU. The committee chair, Lord Morris, identified the pension issue as of “fundamental concern” to the 220,000 British pensioners living in the EU.
“They [issues] have got to be resolved,” he said.“They [issues] have got to be resolved,” he said.
Morgan said it wasn’t good enough for the British government just to expect other EU countries or the European commission to guarantee their rights. Morgan said it was not good enough for the British government just to expect other EU countries or the European commission to guarantee their rights.
“Britain can’t just wash its hands of its citizens abroad,” said Morgan.“Britain can’t just wash its hands of its citizens abroad,” said Morgan.
The committee heard that pensioners were desperately worried with one peer relaying reports of a story about a 99-year-old British pensioner who had lived in Poland for 50 years and had received a letter from the Polish authorities telling her her healthcare would no longer be covered in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The committee heard that pensioners were desperately worried, with one peer relaying reports of a story about a 99-year-old Briton who had lived in Poland for 50 years and had received a letter from the Polish authorities saying her healthcare would no longer be covered in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
While Boris Johnson is hoping his Brexit deal can be passed sooner or later, the prospects of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement remains real with the prime minister facing another knife-edge vote on Tuesday night.While Boris Johnson is hoping his Brexit deal can be passed sooner or later, the prospects of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement remains real with the prime minister facing another knife-edge vote on Tuesday night.
Morgan, who is a retired barrister living in Italy and part of the British in Europe campaign group, said the costs to the British government would double if they had to pay health care for returning British pensioners Morgan, who is a retired barrister living in Italy and part of the British in Europe campaign group, said the costs to the UK government would double if they had to pay healthcare for returning British pensioners
“If Britain pays healthcare of its pensioners abroad it would cost roughly half what it would cost to come back here and be treated by the NHS,” he said.“If Britain pays healthcare of its pensioners abroad it would cost roughly half what it would cost to come back here and be treated by the NHS,” he said.
BrexitBrexit
European UnionEuropean Union
EuropeEurope
Foreign policyForeign policy
Retirement ageRetirement age
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content