We asked the Green Party what their manifesto offered Silversurfers, and here are some key policies affecting the over 50s:
Free Social Care for the over 65s
The policy includes the provision of residential care, home care and home adaptations. It would cost an additional £7billion in 2015, rising to £9billion a year by 2020. It would be paid for by a proportion of the revenue raised from new taxes on wealth and financial transactions and by cracking down on tax avoidance.
Citizens’ Pension
The Green Party have set out plans for a universal Citizens’ pension, paid to all regardless of contribution record, so no pensioner will live in poverty. This would be introduced in 2016.
Employment
Create a million good public sector jobs
Make the minimum wage a living wage to reach £10 per hour by 2020
Equal treatment for older people in employment: “ambition should not be shut off just because we get older”
End exploitative zero hours contracts
Prioritise training in the skills needed to build a low carbon economy – energy efficient design and building, renewable energy. This training would also help end employment discrimination and enable older people to enter new sectors.
Energy efficient housing / Fuel poverty
A free nationwide retrofit insulation programme, concentrating on areas where fuel poverty is most serious, designed to insulate 9 million homes in total
New homes to be built to very high energy efficiency standards
Keep the Winter Fuel Allowance
What are your views? Do you think these are key pledges for you and the country? What else would you like to know about?
That said I WILL VOTE FOR THE GREEN PARTY.