Liberal Democrats call on pensioners to start a campaign of 'civil disobedience' (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrats call on pensioners to start a campaign of 'civil disobedience'

August 24, 2004 3:48 PM

Liberal Democrats today called on pensioners to start a campaign of 'civil disobedience' and refuse to comply with Government demands to give up their pension books. The call comes as postmasters around Britain are reporting that they are currently unable to pay pensions at all because of technical problems with post office card accounts.

Millions of vulnerable pensioners are being bullied and threatened by the Government into giving up their pension books - to be replaced by Post Office card and bank accounts. Many are now getting letters warning that their present pension book will be their last, and demanding that they open either a bank account or a post office card account, based on a plastic card and PIN number. So far nearly a million pensioners have yet to make the enforced switch to payment into accounts.

Many pensioners have already refused to be intimidated by the Government and are demanding that they be allowed to keep their pension books. Now MPs are receiving a growing volume of complaints from pensioners who say that they are being 'bullied'.

Calling on pensioners to make a stand, Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said "It's outrageous that the Government has been bullying pensioners into giving up their pension books. This is money that belongs to pensioners. The Government has no right to bully people in the way that they are. Even at this late stage, if enough people refuse to comply, the Government will have to listen. I would therefore encourage pensioners not to respond to the bullying letters and phone calls that they are getting, and refuse to have their pensions paid into an account."

Professor Webb MP concluded by saying "It is about choice and respect. If pensioners choose not to have an account, the Government should respect that choice. Pressurising people who will not conform is a disgrace."