Mollie Nixon, Carlisle Socialist Students
Earlier this month, Andy Burnham revealed Labour’s plan to axe the pensions triple lock in 2030, aiming to reduce state spending. Their proposal is to weaken the state pension, meaning that, by 2050, retirees will have had an estimated £50 billion pinched off of them.
The triple lock was introduced in 2011 off the back of disgracefully high rates of pensioner poverty in the UK. It was a government commitment, which went above their legal requirement, to increase the state pension each year by whichever of the following three percentages was the highest: average wage growth, inflation, or 2.5%.
The Triple Lock has typically been seen as untouchable, as pensioners are such an important voter base. However, amid global crises and the weakening of traditional capitalist parties, governments are increasingly willing to roll back longstanding concessions to cut costs and protect profits.
Despite what the media may suggest, the average pensioner is not wealthy. Although the Triple Lock has helped reduce pensioner poverty, rates have begun to rise again. With the current state pensions amongst the lowest in the G7 countries, Burnham’s proposal risks pushing more pensioners into serious financial hardship.
We reject the cynical argument that cutting pensions is beneficial for young people or could fund support for NEETS (young people Not in Employment Education or Training). Even if it did, what happens to us when we retire? Already, 43% of working-age people cannot afford to save enough for retirement. Cutting pensions today risks leaving tomorrow’s retirees in even greater poverty. Instead of blaming each other, workers of all ages must unite and realise that there is a group of people in society hoarding the wealth that could finance Gen Z, and it’s not the pensioners!
Defending the Triple Lock will require trade unions to organise workers and pensioners in mass protest and strikes. Students must also play a role, and mobilise for the international youth strikes on 20 November, emphasising that fighting for our future also means fighting for our pensions!
Burnham has outlined a plan to use the money saved on pensions to fund a National Care Service – but why should it be one or the other?
Only through a socialist transformation of society could the constant fight for scraps of welfare truly end. A system based on collective, democratic ownership would put human needs before profit, ensuring everyone gets to enjoy a secure future and a dignified retirement.
Socialist Students enthusiastically welcomes NEU support
As students, we stand united with workers organising against attacks on our education. From Albania to France, India to Argentina, the fight for high-quality, free education has been a central part of the international youth movements that have spread globally this year.
For us, a major aspect of the International Youth Strike slogan – ‘fight for our future, not their wars’ – is the fight against education cuts, student debt, tuition fees, and for fully funded public services.
We also warmly welcome the initiative of the NEU to offer practical solidarity to students choosing to protest on November 20, such as stewarding peaceful protests on the day, and backing any campaigns against disciplinary action that students might face.
Protests confirmed so far for Friday 20 November:
- London: noon, Parliament Square
- Birmingham: noon, University of Birmingham, Green Heart; city demo 2:30pm, High Street (outside Waterstones)
- Leeds: 1:30pm, Parkinson Steps
- Sheffield: 1pm, Barker’s Pool
- Manchester and Salford: 12pm, Whitworth Arch, then march to No10 North
- Liverpool: 1pm, University Square
- Bristol: 1pm, College Green
- Leicester: 1:30pm, the Clock Tower
- Cardiff: 11am, Cardiff University Students’ Union, Park Place
- Coventry: noon, Broadgate
- Nottingham: 12:30pm, Nottingham Trent Students’ Union
- Brighton: 12:30pm, St Peter’s Square, Richmond Place
- Hull: 12:30pm, Queen’s Gardens
- Northampton: 12:30pm, Angel Square
- Southampton: noon, Guildhall Square
- Swansea: noon, Swansea University (Fulton House Green) and Gower College Gorseinon (College Gates)
- York: 2pm, St Helen’s Square
- Reading: noon, Forbury Gardens
- Preston: noon, University of Lancashire Student Centre
- Cambridge: 4pm, King’s Parade
- Guildford: 12:30pm, University of Surrey, Philip Marchant Building
- Cheltenham: noon, Imperial Gardens
- Carlisle: noon, Market Cross
- Worcester: 3pm, Sabrina Bridge
To assist with its drive to build the biggest possible youth walkouts on 20 November, the Socialist has invited Socialist Students to have regular space in its pages.
The invitation is initially open until the Socialist Students national conference on 5 December.
