Hackney Pensioners Quiz Local Candidates
The panel was manned by all Parliamentary Candidates for Hackney South and Shoreditch but Labour’s candidate, Diane Abbott, was the only representative from the major parties in Hackney North and Stoke Newington to attend the meeting.
The meeting offered local pensioners an opportunity to quiz their PPCs on their achievements and proposals for pensioners. The panel was questioned on a range of issues from housing to foreign policy.
Labour candidates Diane Abbott and Meg Hillier teamed up to reassure local pensioners about Labour’s achievements in Hackney. Diane said: “Labour has worked hard for the pensioners of Hackney. Thousands of pensioners are now benefiting from the Pensioner Tax Credit, the Winter Fuel Allowance and free TV licences. The Government has also pledged to ease pensioners’ council tax burden and has brought in a special £200 rebate for pensioners”. Abbott added: “Labour has invested heavily in crucial services that pensioners rely heavily on like the health service. In Hackney the Homerton Hospital has had millions pumped into it.”
Both conceded that there is more work to be done by Labour. Ms Abbott went on; “I want to stress that I remain opposed to means testing and believe that the Government should restore the link between pensions and earnings in order to guarantee everyone a decent basic pension as of right. I urge the people of Hackney to vote Labour next week.”
Ends
Editor’s notes:
1 The Audience took place at the Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, London E8 from 11am-1pm on the 22nd April.
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