Bryn Davies

A good chart. But note that the ILC report is about how ageing “brings economic opportunities which are currently being neglected, including the growing spending, working and earning potential of people at older ages”. So don’t assume it’s a negative picture or one age group versus another.

Graphic representing the cycle of money and mental health problems. Four rectangles connected to each other in a loop, saying: “Mental health problems → Mental health problems make it harder to earn, manage money and spending, and to ask for help → Financial difficulty → Financial difficulty causes stress and anxiety, made worse by collections activity or going without essentials.”

Money and mental health problems can trap people in a vicious cycle.

Financial pressure harms wellbeing, and poor mental health makes earning and managing money harder.

It’s common – but not inevitable. 💜

We’re working for fairer systems and practical support to break this vicious cycle.

Maybe they have the wrong mayor when people talk about a challenge to Starmer’s leadership.

… as well as Diane.

Most welcome news that @johnmcdonnellmp.bsky.social and Apsana Begum MP have had the Labour whip restored. Let’s hope the olive branch is extended all the others who have had the whip removed for voting with their conscience.

… and Burns & Allen; Jack Benny; I Married Joan; and Amos ‘n Andy Show for goodness sake. Huckleberry Hound was pretty influential as well. “I’m with you Boo-boo.”

The rules aren’t clear whether other candidates can then stand but they do say, in effect, that the current holder is automatically a candidate.

Chapter 4, Clause II, Paragraph 1. B. ii says “Where there is no vacancy, nominations may be sought by potential challengers. In this case any nomination must be supported by 20 per cent of the Commons members of the PLP.” So 80 MP’s can force a leadership election.

Next year’s increase in the Basic State Pension and the New State Pension increase is nothing to do with the triple-lock. The increase is in line with average earnings, as required by law. It would be the same, with or without the triple-lock.

Yes, it should continue until the New State pension reaches the right higher level. While it is random, we’ve got it and it works in terms of increasing the NSP in real terms. In theory it could be replaced by something more systematic, but that isn’t going to happen.

The whole point of pensions policy over the last 20 years has been to increase pensioners’ income compared to those of the working population. Hence the triple lock, which is particularly important for pensioners on low incomes. The graph represents a success, not a problem.

But this begs a question. What is the correct level for the new State pension to provide future retirees with adequate incomes in retirement?

The self-serving rhetoric of demands to “give us your money”.

End the Gender Pension Gap for public sector women This will make a real difference to millions of women and shows what can be done when pension schemes take this issue seriously.  We are calling on all other public sector pension schemes- coveri...

Sign our petition calling on government to end the gender pension gap for public sector women ✍️

Gender gap means retired women ‘have four months a year with no pension’ Income inequality means women in effect stop receiving a pension from 21 August, union leaders say

🚨 Prospect research reveals women lose out on £7,600 a year in retirement.

A 36.5% gender pension gap – that's double the gender pay gap.

This inequality is unacceptable. Government must take real action now to close the gap.

There’s a lot resting on the word “primarily” there.

Sure, there are many people who, rightly, benefit from the NSP. But given that the reforms were cost neutral, there are also many who will have a lower State pension, due to the loss of S2P post 2016. Sometimes, where they are not entitled to the full NSP, they will now be entitled to PC.

Not everyone gets the full rate of the NSP. Without retained SERPS/S2P benefits they are more likely to be entitled to PC.

Which thread? In this one he ignores SERPS/S2P.

Maybe it’s because SERPS/S2P entitlements are declining?

Allotment story: My allotment (No. 429) is on large and successful site in South London. The bit in the headline that strikes me as particularly stupid is the reference to “Brits”. All my site’s notices are multi lingual, reflecting the diverse background of plot holders.

I don’t read what Bell said, as reported in the FT, as meaning that he “wants” to ramp up the pace of “running down” DB pensions. He is, perhaps, too complacent about what has been happening to DB schemes and I hope one of the issues for the Commission is how to reverse this trend.

Well yes. And that’s what we had with SERPS from 1978 until it was destroyed in stages from 1987 until 2016. A classic example of good policy being destroyed by an inferior alternative backed by ideological and commercial interests. Who now advocates personal pensions?

Not really a New Labour policy. More a legacy of the John Smith era. But Blair had to go along with it.

“A deeply ingrained cultural memory of scams.”, which is totally reasonable.

Still looking forward.

So what happened to the second stage pensions review on adequacy? Despite clear hints that it was all ready to go and that we would find out on the 15th, nothing. Has someone lost their nerve?

Sorry but no. The prior question isn’t should we have the triple lock? The prior question is what is the right level for the State pension? That’s why the Government’s pensions adequacy review is so important. Decide the right level and then decide how we get there.

Spokesperson for finance industry wants higher fees for finance industry.