Andy Burnham compelled to make main announcement on pension age change after public revolt
A parliamentary petition calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to 65 has reached the 10,000-signature threshold, meaning the UK Government is now required to issue an official response
The petition has already reached 10,000 signatures.(Image: Getty)
A parliamentary petition calling for the State Pension age to be reduced has hit its 10,000-signature milestone, forcing the UK Government to provide an official response.
Campaigners have been demanding the State Pension age be cut to 65, as part of a public campaign that emerged alongside wider calls for retirement policy reforms under Andy Burnham, who this week announced long-term structural modifications to the state pension system, including the triple lock.
Mr Burnham is now anticipated to tackle another possible reform following 16 September, when Michelle Gill launched a petition on the parliamentary website, calling on the government to slash the State Pension age to 65 for everyone nationwide. The State Pension age is presently increasing from 66 to 67 in stages. This legal rise is set to impact new pensioners based on their specific birth date.
Andy Burnham is expected to address the debate around the state pension age.(Image: Getty)
Ms Gill’s petition argues that reducing the threshold would enable people to “retire with dignity and avoid hardship”, highlighting that many individuals aged 65 to 67 experience poor health, restricted job prospects, and overwhelming caring responsibilities, reports the Express.
It also suggests that earlier retirement could create employment opportunities for younger people. After quickly exceeding the 10,000-signature target, the UK Parliament petitions portal officially confirmed that the Government will respond to this petition.
The Prime Minister has also recently unveiled plans to break the triple lock after the next general election to finance a new National Care Service in England.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester also stated that low-income pensioners would be exempt from income tax during this Parliament. The petition is set to stay open until March 16, 2027.
