27 March 2009
Theresa May MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, yesterday joined Alok Sharma and local Conservative councillors in Pangbourne to launch a petition calling on Gordon Brown to provide more help for pensioners and savers in the forthcoming Budget.
After the launch of the petition Theresa May spoke to local pensioners at a public meeting in Pangbourne Village Hall answering their questions on the Conservative proposals.
Theresa May said: “Our petition is calling on Gordon Brown to abolish income tax on savings for basic rate tax payers and to raise the pensioners’ allowance by £2,000 to £11,490. We have proposed that the package is paid for by reducing the growth in Government spending by £5 billion and so instead of rising by £30 billion next year the increase would be £25 billion whilst ensuring that spending on the NHS, schools, defence and international development is protected.”
Theresa continued: “The response to the petition on the streets of Pangbourne has been excellent and many of my Shadow Cabinet colleagues have been launching the same petition across the country. This is a real opportunity to send a clear message to this Government – we need action right now to help our pensioners and savers who have seen their incomes from savings fall dramatically as interest rates have come down.”
Alok Sharma said: “Pensioners and savers across Reading are really feeling the pinch and they need help to get through the hard times and if adopted by the Government, our proposals will help to put some much needed cash in the pocket of our pensioners. Our petition, which will be presented at 10 Downing Street before the Budget, has been extremely well received in Pangbourne and we will be taking it to other parts of the Reading West constituency over the coming days. This is a golden opportunity to send a direct message to Gordon Brown, it really is time he started listening."
Photo: Theresa May and Alok Sharma launch the petition to help pensioners and savers.
After the launch of the petition Theresa May spoke to local pensioners at a public meeting in Pangbourne Village Hall answering their questions on the Conservative proposals.
Theresa May said: “Our petition is calling on Gordon Brown to abolish income tax on savings for basic rate tax payers and to raise the pensioners’ allowance by £2,000 to £11,490. We have proposed that the package is paid for by reducing the growth in Government spending by £5 billion and so instead of rising by £30 billion next year the increase would be £25 billion whilst ensuring that spending on the NHS, schools, defence and international development is protected.”
Theresa continued: “The response to the petition on the streets of Pangbourne has been excellent and many of my Shadow Cabinet colleagues have been launching the same petition across the country. This is a real opportunity to send a clear message to this Government – we need action right now to help our pensioners and savers who have seen their incomes from savings fall dramatically as interest rates have come down.”
Alok Sharma said: “Pensioners and savers across Reading are really feeling the pinch and they need help to get through the hard times and if adopted by the Government, our proposals will help to put some much needed cash in the pocket of our pensioners. Our petition, which will be presented at 10 Downing Street before the Budget, has been extremely well received in Pangbourne and we will be taking it to other parts of the Reading West constituency over the coming days. This is a golden opportunity to send a direct message to Gordon Brown, it really is time he started listening."
Photo: Theresa May and Alok Sharma launch the petition to help pensioners and savers.
