Pensioners abandon Tories as nearly 1 / 4 leap ship to Reform
Fewer than half of the pensioners who backed the Tories in 2019 plan to vote for them next week, according to a new poll that shows almost a quarter have switched to back Reform.
Just 49 per cent of those aged 66 to 88 who voted Conservative five years ago will do so on July 4, with 22 per cent jumping ship to back Nigel Farage‘s party.
The polling by JL Partners and shared with MailOnline shows that overall just 27 per cent of voters of retirement age will support the Tories, with 20 backing Labour and 18 per cent Reform.
It suggests that Rishi Sunak‘s attempt to win back the grey vote has failed, despite a manifesto heavily slewed towards those who no longer work, as he tried to halt the stampede to Mr Farage’s rightwing party.
While the election in general has focused on older voters more than working voters, the poll by JL Partners and Churchill Retirement Living found that almost eight in 10 (78 per cent) of pensioners feel ‘taken for granted’ by politicians.
There is also strong support for a dedicated minister for later living, with a focus on health and social care.
Scarlett Maguire, director of JL Partners, said: ‘There is an opportunity for Labour to make a bold offer to 66–80-year-olds. These key voters currently feel ignored by all parties – and are looking for politicians to show they are listening when it comes to policymaking.’
In addition to the triple lock uprating the state pension, in line with the highest of inflation, earnings or 2.5 per cent, the tax-free personal allowance for pensioners will also rise to match the annual state pension.
The £12,570 personal allowance has been frozen since 2021, which means more pensioners are now paying income tax if they receive the £11,500 a year full state pension and some private pension income.
The pledge to retain the triple lock while continuing to freeze the personal allowance, meant the state pension was projected to surpass the basic rate tax threshold. The triple lock plus ends that.
The Conservatives claim that their policy will mean the average pensioner is forecast to see an increase in the state pension of £428 next year and £1,677 by the end of the parliament, reaching £13,200 annually.
They say pensioners will get an income tax cut of £95 next year, rising to £275 by the end of the parliament.
The Tories have also promised to protect pension savers, with the manifesto stating: ‘Under our new Pensions Tax Guarantee, the Conservatives will not introduce any new taxes on pensions. We will maintain the 25 per cent tax free lump sum and maintain tax relief on pension contributions at their marginal rate. We will not extend National Insurance to employer pension contributions.’
All current pensioner benefits will remain in place, including free bus passes, winter fuel payments, free prescriptions and TV licences.
