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Tories plan rise in pension age Tories plan rise in pension age
(10 minutes later)
Conservative plans to raise the state retirement age, up to ten years earlier than planned, will be outlined by shadow chancellor George Osborne later. Conservative plans to raise the state retirement age, up to ten years earlier than planned, are being outlined by shadow chancellor George Osborne.
If elected, they will look at raising the pension age for men to 66 from 2016 at the earliest, to cut debts and pay for linking pension rises to earnings.If elected, they will look at raising the pension age for men to 66 from 2016 at the earliest, to cut debts and pay for linking pension rises to earnings.
They have not ruled out raising women's state pension age to 66 but say doing so by 2016 is "out of the question".They have not ruled out raising women's state pension age to 66 but say doing so by 2016 is "out of the question".
Ministers said the plans were "deeply unfair" and would hurt women.Ministers said the plans were "deeply unfair" and would hurt women.
Labour plans to raise the pension age to 66 between 2024 and 2026 but the Conservatives say this is not "ambitious enough" given rising life expectancy and the scale of the UK's debts.Labour plans to raise the pension age to 66 between 2024 and 2026 but the Conservatives say this is not "ambitious enough" given rising life expectancy and the scale of the UK's debts.
'Complexities''Complexities'
Bringing the move forward would mean many more people than previously expected, particularly those aged between 49 and 59, having to work a year longer before qualifying for a state pension.Bringing the move forward would mean many more people than previously expected, particularly those aged between 49 and 59, having to work a year longer before qualifying for a state pension.
Conservative Party sources say the change would save £13bn a year from the year it was introduced, about 0.75% of GDP each year.Conservative Party sources say the change would save £13bn a year from the year it was introduced, about 0.75% of GDP each year.
TORY CONFERENCE TWEETS TORY CONFERENCE TWEETS
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crazy scrum around George Osborne and Ken Clarke-Clarke calls it a 'pit of snakes' #cpc09 11 minutes ago press snappers all lined up to catch osborne and cameron on the way to the big speech-despite buckets of rain #cpc09 31 minutes ago Does Boris disagree on speed cams?letter from TFL asks for govt cash to be protected-Villiers says councils have to find their own #cpc09 59 minutes ago Cameron says raising pension age for women to 66 in 2016 out of question-review will suggest how to up it gradually #cpc09 About 3 hours ago Tories say people will 'question the motives' of Darling's announcement on pay freeze on the eve of Osborne's big speech #cpc09 About 14 hours ago What is this? crazy scrum around George Osborne and Ken Clarke-Clarke calls it a 'pit of snakes' #cpc09 21 minutes ago press snappers all lined up to catch osborne and cameron on the way to the big speech-despite buckets of rain #cpc09 41 minutes ago Does Boris disagree on speed cams?letter from TFL asks for govt cash to be protected-Villiers says councils have to find their own #cpc09 About 1 hour ago Cameron says raising pension age for women to 66 in 2016 out of question-review will suggest how to up it gradually #cpc09 About 3 hours ago Tories say people will 'question the motives' of Darling's announcement on pay freeze on the eve of Osborne's big speech #cpc09 About 15 hours ago What is this?
Ministers plan to gradually raise the state pension age for women over ten years from 60 to 65 by 2020.Ministers plan to gradually raise the state pension age for women over ten years from 60 to 65 by 2020.
Asked whether his plans meant women would suddenly see the state pension age raised to 66 in 2016 - rather than 63 as currently planned - Mr Cameron said: " A jump like that is out of the question".Asked whether his plans meant women would suddenly see the state pension age raised to 66 in 2016 - rather than 63 as currently planned - Mr Cameron said: " A jump like that is out of the question".
He said there were "complexities" in the system which the review would have to address but added: "No-one wants to see something like that".He said there were "complexities" in the system which the review would have to address but added: "No-one wants to see something like that".
"We want to have a review to work out how best to provide a proper glide path and a sinking of the two pension ages," he said, adding that the overall proposal was "realistic and reasonable"."We want to have a review to work out how best to provide a proper glide path and a sinking of the two pension ages," he said, adding that the overall proposal was "realistic and reasonable".
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the Tories had clarified that the earliest date at which all women would have to work until the age of 66 before receiving their state pension was 2022.The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the Tories had clarified that the earliest date at which all women would have to work until the age of 66 before receiving their state pension was 2022.
Mr Cameron said the rise in the pension age was designed to help pay for restoring the link between pensions and earnings - something both Labour and the Conservatives are committed to introducing before the end of the next Parliament.Mr Cameron said the rise in the pension age was designed to help pay for restoring the link between pensions and earnings - something both Labour and the Conservatives are committed to introducing before the end of the next Parliament.
He said his plans were underpinned by "a genuine desire" to ensure pensioners were not "left behind" and were able to retire with "security and dignity".He said his plans were underpinned by "a genuine desire" to ensure pensioners were not "left behind" and were able to retire with "security and dignity".
"The big step we are taking is to say that that the previous agreement that 2026 was the right year was not ambitious enough," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that the debt crisis and rising life expectancy meant more urgent action was needed."The big step we are taking is to say that that the previous agreement that 2026 was the right year was not ambitious enough," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that the debt crisis and rising life expectancy meant more urgent action was needed.
"We need to go further.""We need to go further."
Public financesPublic finances
Mr Osborne will announce more details in a keynote speech to his party in Manchester later. Mr Osborne will announce more details as he makes his keynote speech to his party in Manchester.
Under the government's existing plans, the state pension age will rise gradually from 65 to 68 between 2024 to 2046.Under the government's existing plans, the state pension age will rise gradually from 65 to 68 between 2024 to 2046.
Mr Cameron acknowledged that the decision could prove unpopular with some but said he wanted his party to "face up to the big issues" and be upfront about dealing with the public finances .Mr Cameron acknowledged that the decision could prove unpopular with some but said he wanted his party to "face up to the big issues" and be upfront about dealing with the public finances .
You can't just tell people in their late fifties to rip up their retirement plans because they have to work up to three years longer Yvette Cooper Flanders: An embarrassment of cuts Send us your comments Anger at public pay freeze planYou can't just tell people in their late fifties to rip up their retirement plans because they have to work up to three years longer Yvette Cooper Flanders: An embarrassment of cuts Send us your comments Anger at public pay freeze plan
But Labour said that the plans were "deeply unfair" and would create huge uncertainty, particularly for women.But Labour said that the plans were "deeply unfair" and would create huge uncertainty, particularly for women.
"This is an appalling way to treat older people," said Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper."This is an appalling way to treat older people," said Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper.
"You can't just tell people in their late fifties to rip up their retirement plans because they have to work up to three years longer."You can't just tell people in their late fifties to rip up their retirement plans because they have to work up to three years longer.
She added: "They want to hit low paid workers in their late fifties, but they're still backing tax cuts on millionaires' estates. This shows how out of touch David Cameron and George Osborne are."She added: "They want to hit low paid workers in their late fifties, but they're still backing tax cuts on millionaires' estates. This shows how out of touch David Cameron and George Osborne are."
The Treasury's announcement late on Monday of a pay freeze for 750,000 senior and middle-ranking civil servants has angered the Tories, who described it as "cynical in timing".The Treasury's announcement late on Monday of a pay freeze for 750,000 senior and middle-ranking civil servants has angered the Tories, who described it as "cynical in timing".
But Labour sources insisted they were not trying to scupper Mr Osborne's speech, saying public sector pay was simply the first issue in Mr Darling's in-tray after he returned from the Labour conference and a series of foreign engagements.But Labour sources insisted they were not trying to scupper Mr Osborne's speech, saying public sector pay was simply the first issue in Mr Darling's in-tray after he returned from the Labour conference and a series of foreign engagements.


Are you aged between 49 and 59? Would you be affected by these changes?Are you aged between 49 and 59? Would you be affected by these changes?
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