Pensions – the socialist future


THE SOCIALIST Party argues in its election manifesto that every person has
the right to a living pension, which should be based around a socialist
pensions policy achieving the following demands:
  • Allow workers to start drawing a decent state pension at 55. Those who want
    to continue work could do so.
  • Part-time work with part pension could bridge the gap between work and
    retirement for those who want it.
  • Pensioners should receive an immediate 50% increase. This should be
    extended to all state benefits.
  • The link between pensions and earnings should be restored.
  • In addition, pensioners, having contributed to society all their lives,
    should be entitled to free housing, heating, telephone and travel.

We estimate these measures would cost around £15 billion a year. But, at a
time when the government, the bosses’ organisation the CBI and the media say
Britain is facing a pensions crisis, how could such measures be afforded?

There has been talk of a looming pensions ‘crisis’ for years. But this
‘crisis’ has been caused by the actions of the bosses and the government in
trying to boost the profitability of the capitalist system, rather than by
workers living longer.

The Socialist Party argues that even within the priorities of a capitalist
government in Britain, a much higher level of pension could be immediately
paid for by using some or all of the £35 billion a year New Labour currently
spend on so-called defence. The £25 billion surplus built up from National
Insurance contributions in the last 20 years since the link between pensions
and earnings was broken could also be used.

Also the £27 million a year in debt repayment and interest charges the
government pays to financial institutions, could all be better used on
providing decent state pensions and occupational pensions for public-sector
workers.

If tax relief for the richest 2% of fat cats in the British population was
abolished that would immediately release an extra £15 billion a year for
decent pensions for the majority.

Britain’s bosses have been raking it in for decades through the low level
of corporation tax they pay and the super profits they have made. If
corporation tax had remained at the same level as it was in 1974, over £100
billion extra would have been raised in those three decades.

Bank profits

And, Britain’s banks are set to make over £30 billion in combined profits
this year. If Gordon Brown imposed another windfall tax on them as he did to
the utilities in 1997, after Labour came to power to pay for its job creation
programme, that would add another £15 billion to the treasury coffers.

Of course, to do this New Labour would have to attack the profits of their
big business friends. However, such measures could be won if the bosses and
capitalist politicians felt the pressure of a mass movement on the issue of
pensions.

What is really always at stake under a capitalist system is the division of
society’s wealth between the capitalist class and the rest of us. A mass
struggle and the fear of their system being overthrown – as has happened in
the past – can force the capitalist governments to concede more than they
normally would like to.

But, the Socialist Party’s election programme on pensions is only the first
step to eradicate the effect of the decades where pension provision in Britain
has been run down.

As well as carrying out the above immediate demands, a socialist society
would allow pensioners a decent minimum weekly income – of at least £320 a
week at today’s levels – and ensure that they were not burdened with the cost
of paying for accommodation, transportation, fuel or communication.

At the same time, a socialist economic plan would allow more resources to
be provided in education, health and social welfare to ensure that pensioners’
lives were more fulfilling. Pensioners would no longer feel like second-class
citizens and know that they were contributing to society’s well being in the
same way as every other section of the population.