Local MP John McDonnell launches pensions campaign

The Government’s Pensions Bill is currently being debated by Parliament, and will be returning to the floor of the House of Commons for discussion by MPs in the next month.

This week John McDonnell MP has tabled an amendment to the bill to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

In the 1980s Mrs Thatcher abolished the link between increases in earnings and increases in pensions. This has meant that pensions have been increased each year by the rate of inflation, and not as in the past by the rate of earnings increase. As a result, pensioners have lost out on over £30 per week.

John has campaigned over the years with local and national pensioner organisations to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

John said “I am calling on all MPs from all political parties to support my amendment to the Pensions Bill to restore the link with earnings and rectify this injustice. The breaking of the link by Mrs Thatcher has meant that pensioners have not shared in the growth of the economy and have consistently missed out on a decent pension increase. Restoring the link is easily affordable and I am appealing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer not to block my amendment.”

Local Activities this Week

Local Activities Diary For week Commencing 8th February 2007


Friday 9th John is speaking at the Hillingdon Annual Youth Conference at 9.15am at the Civic Centre Uxbridge.

Saturday 10th John is addressing the demonstration at Harmondsworth Detention Centre at 12.30pm to express his concern at the Government’s detention policies, the conditions in the Centre and its impact on the local community.

Monday 11th John is meeting Ms Marian Lewis, new head of Mellow Lane School.

Tuesday 12th John is undertaking a walkabout in Charville Lane with local residents and Councillor Peter Curling in light of allegations of neglect of area.

Thursday 15th John is speaking at AGM of Hillingdon Credit Union to promote the use of the credit union in the borough. The AGM is at 12.30pm in Committee Room 5 of the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

Newpaper Report of Hillingdon Health Service Privatisation Plan

A report appeared in yesterday's national press that Hillingdon PCT was considering privatising virtually all of its services, reducing its staff from 300 to 30.

This proposal is aimed at tackling the PCT's cumulated budget deficit of approaching £50 million.

This flies in the face of assurances we have been given as a community at our local community conference in December and the assurances we were given as local MPs in recent meetings with the Chief Executive of Hillingdon's PCT.

I am hoping that this report is inaccurate.

We have seen what privatisation has meant in other public services. Often privatisation has resulted in cuts in staff numbers, wages and conditions, eventual cuts in services and has allowed private companies to profiteer from our public services.

I have written to the new Chief Executive of Hillingdon PCT to express my shock at these proposals and I have asked for a meeting with him as a matter of urgency.

I have also contacted the local trade unions to meet with the representatives of local health workers as I fear for their jobs and our services if this plan is implemented.

If I find that there is any truth in these proposals I will bring local residents and health workers together to press the PCT to draw back from this disastrous plan.

In the week when the Public Accounts Committee's report exposed the mess made over the proposed move of Harefield to the Paddington Hospital site using the Private Finance Initiative, you would have thought they had learnt their lessons over privatisation.