Keir Starmer urged to create major new position to champion pensioners

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to create a new role to champion pensioners. A coalition of organisations, including Age UK and Independent Age, has written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to appoint a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England.

The demand follows similar appointments in Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as a recommendation by a group of MPs. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "The now well-established Commissioner roles in Wales and Northern Ireland have more than proved their worth.

"They have helped older people's views and experiences to be better heard and better understood by decision makers and the public alike, and they have improved the quality and joined-upness of the public policy produced by their governments as a result.

"With our rapidly increasing ageing population in England there is much to gain from establishing a Commissioner role, and really nothing to lose. It's time for the Westminster Government to act."

Joanne Elson, chief executive of Independent Age, added that pensioners feel "like their voice doesn't matter" and "like they have been forgotten" in the wake of Labour's winter fuel payment cuts.

She added: "People in later life who are facing financial hardship need an independent advocate with the power to make change.

"A Commissioner for Older People and Ageing is essential in an ageing society and will benefit us all as we grow older.

"We hope that the UK Government acts on the recommendations of the Committee and seriously considers creating a commissioner role in England, to mirror Wales and Northern Ireland.”

In the letter, also signed by the National Pensioners Convention and the Centre for Ageing Better, the organisations say they are "concerned about the way in which governmental policy often fails to meet the needs of people in later life".

They add that the Government has a "huge opportunity to tackle this and meaningfully demonstrate its commitment to older people" with the creation of the position.

The letter says: "Our society is ageing, and policymakers should embrace this demographic shift.

"Currently 11 million people are aged 65 or over, and by 2040 17 million (1 in 4) of us will be over 65.

"An ageing population will require collaboration and joined-up thinking to deliver innovative policy solutions and meet the needs of the future.

"The support people need in later life from institutions like the NHS and social care, and social security systems are critical, but no single government department can respond to these issues alone.

"A commissioner would facilitate the long-term planning that is needed to ensure our economy and public services are adapting to demographic shifts, while also enabling more people to age well. This would not just benefit older people, but our country as a whole."

Tory MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, said in May 2024 that the case for a representative for OAPs was "overwhelming".

The committee recommended in February that the Government replicates the framework of Wales, with the Government's response due next month.

A government spokesperson said: "We recognise the importance of older people and the challenges they face, including instances of discrimination, which is why the Equality Act 2010 contains strong protections for older people in a variety of settings, including work and the provision of services.

"We are putting more money into pensioners’ pockets through our commitment to the triple lock as part of Plan for Change, which is set to increase the State Pension by up to £1,900 this Parliament.

“We will respond to the Women and Equalities Committee Report on The Rights of Older People in due course."