Chancellor challenged on the frozen pensions policy in House of Commons questions on the Autumn Budget

November 22, 2023 Frozen British Pensions 11 Comments

Today, Sir Peter Bottomley MP raised the issue of frozen pensions directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, following his presentation of the Autumn Budget.

This followed on from the APPG meeting earlier that morning, chaired by Sir Peter Bottomley, marking the launch of a new report, UK-Canada: An Unequal Partnership, which highlights the differences in engagement with the policy between the two countries.

Sir Peter Bottomley highlighted to the Chancellor the case of 98-year old WW2 veteran Anne Puckridge, a British pensioner now living in Canada receiving less than half the full current UK state pension due to the frozen pensions policy. Sir Peter asked the Chancellor to look into this issue personally, to which the Chancellor agreed, as well as offering to write or meet with Sir Peter personally on this matter.

Read the transcript of Sir Peter Bottomley’s intervention and the Chancellor’s response here: [Contribution by Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) (Con) (parliament.uk)]

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Comments

  1. jeffrey rafferty
    November 23, 2023 - 8:19 pm

    My pension is reduced to GBP100 per week, because of time spent abroad. I have a wife, a 14year old, a 24year old, all at home. My wife now sells corn cobs on the street. I must now do a job which no Mexican will do, cleaning chicken entrails. Just trying to make ends meet and keep our son in a decent school. Inflation here is incessant. I never imagined life could be so hard, at 72. And my government gives me the cold shoulder. Or actaully, is it frozen???? I just want to ask why?

  2. Valletta1anon
    January 5, 2024 - 11:27 am

    The British government’s continued attitude towards payment of the UK State Retirement Pension for which contributions have been made to UK funds to those who have moved overseas encourages me and others to forget any obligations towards the UK under the terms of the Official Secrets enactments. Are others of the same mind?

  3. Keith Naylor
    February 25, 2024 - 6:12 pm

    I believe the UK Government are in breach of the 2010 Equality Act which cleary states Discrimination in the workplace and wider society is illegal.
    They tend to hide behind Judicial decisions reached prior to the 2010 Equality Act.

  4. Robin Davidson
    February 25, 2024 - 10:31 pm

    Keith – I concur. It’s a b….y disgrace. At least I am now registered to vote in the UK elections under the votes for life legislation. It’s just a shame that my Tory MP is a member of the APPG but as the Tories are in power and doing nothing about it it looks like I’ll have to vote against him at the next election – nothing personal but you need to have a word with Sunak PDQ.

  5. Michael O'Hare
    April 7, 2024 - 10:39 am

    I hope Keith is correct, maybe time to get legal opinion on another challenge?
    My constituency MP is also Tory, when I wrote to her she just bounced back the party line on frozen pensions, Falmouth/Cambourne is a very marginal constituency, and will still be after the name and boundary changes, easy choice for me next election!

  6. Rohan Tillekeratne
    April 9, 2024 - 2:15 am

    I’m struggling live on my pension in Australia because of the increase in the cost living.
    I’ve paid full contributions to the NI Scheme. Its very unfair..

  7. Ron
    April 16, 2024 - 5:53 pm

    Have just read the Guardian report about one milllions pensioners in the UK facing deprivation. The reply from a spokesman for DWP says they are looking after ALL pensioners. This gave me the biggest laugh I have had for a long time.

  8. Robin Davidson
    April 17, 2024 - 9:05 pm

  9. BrianSlade
    May 30, 2024 - 8:32 am

    I think it’s the discriminatory aspect of the policy which galls the most. Either freeze all ex-pat. pensions or treat them all the same as UK resident pensioners. Why should wealthy ex-pats. living in Mauritius for example enjoy increases while those of us in nearby South Africa do not? It makes no sense and is blatantly discriminatory.

  10. Nick Johnson
    August 8, 2024 - 9:28 am

    With A New Labour Governement, (which traditionally supported the working man and equality without discrimination), the end of frozen pensions, for those who chose to retire near their families in other countries, should now be accelerated through parliment.

  11. Stephen Jones.
    August 13, 2024 - 12:44 pm

    I live in Thailand and had no increase in my UK pension for nine years. How can this be fare. Ex pats abroad are getting poorer. hat a disgrace after a life time of work and contributions for 35 Years. Politicians hang your heads in shame.

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