Onchan MHK Julie Edge has trashed the government’s plans to reform the island’s pensions.
Under proposed plans the island would drop the triple lock pension guarantee for those who retire(d) after 2019.
Ms Edge said that the Treasury Minister had promised a national debate on pension reform, but this hadn’t happened.
She said: “My first thoughts were this proposal makes some pensioners more equal than others.
“Worse still, I have now realized that this policy could put UK state pensioners living on our island in a better position than Manx born pensioners who have lived and worked here all their lives.
“That is both unacceptable and deeply unfair, and I refuse to allow this proposal to be buried in the small print of the budget, and that is why I stand here today.
“I appreciate that we do have a separate to operate in order to debate until more on Budget day, but that does not give the people of the Isle of Man opportunity to have their say and full debate on the impacts of scrapping the triple lock.”
An amendment by Glenfaba and Peel MHK Kate Lord-Brennan would see Ms Edge’s motion changed, but only to ensure that “no changes to the triple lock policy should be made or proposed for confirmation at the February 2025 sitting of Tynwald; and that Treasury should ensure that a public discussion and consultation is carried out before bringing a policy proposal for Tynwald debate and approval by June 2025”.
The debate is continuing in Keys this afternoon.
You can hear Ms Edge’s spech here:
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