Blackpool Pensioners Parliament 2014
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BLACKPOOL PENSIONERS PARLIAMENT 2014. The Parliament was held in the Wintergardens Blackpool from June 17th to the 19th. The weather was really good almost like being on the Mediterranean coast. Our stay in the Imperial Hotel was comfortable, the staff were all very cherful, friendly and helpful, the general atmosphere was relaxed and a world apart from what we endured in 2013 when we stayed at the Metrpole Hotel. The food was excellent and all of us would be happty to stay there again if required. The Unite Delegation consisted of the following Members:- Alan Jackson (National Chair), Ronnie Morrison, Alan Sidaway, David Morgan (National Vice Chair), Val Burns, Mary Dyer Atkins, Lorene Fabian, Mike McLoughlin. Bill Moores was unable to attend due to having had a recent operation. The March from the Blackpool Tower: - On the Tuesday afternoon the traditional march from the rear of the of the Blackpool Tower to the Wintergardens started at 1.00PM. Prior to the start of the march approximately 800 people gathered at the assembly point with their banners in glorious sunshine, the numbers were down in comparison with recent years. This reduction in numbers we feel was due in large part to the effect of the coalition’s austerity measures on the nations pensioners. The march set off to the winter gardens with the band playing and all the participants in high spirits in antipication of a great Parliament, there were many young people and local senior citizens showing a keen interest from the sidelines as we marched to the Wintergardens. The onlookers appeared to be more aware of what we were about this year than in previous years, we did not disapoint them as we shouted out appropriate slogans, which signified that we were in high spirits, and looking forward to having a great parliament. The Opening of Parliament: - After our arrival at the Winter gardens and everyone had settled down the NPC president introduced the Deputy Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Chris Ryan who welcomed us all to Blackpool. He indicated that he takes a keen interest in our work and what we are doing for the pensioner movement, he stated that he is unhappy about what the coalition government is doing to the NHS and also worries about what will happen to the bus pass, and other issues such as care in the community etc. He hoped that we would have a good stay in Blackpool and enjoy the present good weather. The NPC president then presented him with a cheque on behalf of the NPC for the Mayor’s charity. The first speaker: - This was Claire Keatinge (Older People's Commissioner for Northern Ireland), it was a challenging debate, she spoke about age population, she is a very independent person who is not in anybody’s pocket; she will not kowtow to any public body obstructing her that is not legal. Attitudes to aging vary, some celebte it, others moan about it. Life expectations are rising all over the world, older peole should be assessed and valued. Older people work, pay taxes, give care to their families and deserve recognition for their contribution to society. 43% of pensioners struggle financially. An incredible amount of extra money available in Northern Ireland for pensioners is not claimed. Claire is completely at ease whether she is in conversing with pensioners, councillors , or others. £42 Billion saved through the input of volunteers, we must always remember that older people also have rights, we do have a good care service in Northern Ireland, a better, more caring government is needed. We need to invest in today’s and the next generation of pensioners, which would give people hope, fairness and certainty for the future and to feel respected. We have a good health service and we need to hold on to it. The second speaker: - This was Neel Radia from the National Association of Care Catering, who stated that we need a better standard of catering, nationally, which is important and vital for older people, we need a formal debate, wheels on wheels is slowly disappearing. This service has been around for 70 years, it was set up by the WRVS in 1943, this is an important service, there is no state help for this service, so councils take a short cut on the meals on wheels service. The politicians must protect this vital and important service, 56 councils i.e. 25% have cancelled services, this is not a luxury, but a life line for many pensioners. This service keeps people out of hospital which costs £250 per night; malnutrition costs the NHS £30 million per year. The existing service saves the NHS billions of pounds on care, we do need meals on wheels, this should be in the statuate book, we must do all we can do to save this vital service. The main benefits are nutrition, hydration, relief of social ioolation ets. The third speaker: - Belinda Turffrey from 38 Degrees, said that we campaign on various issues, we have 2.6 million members and it is small donations that keep our movement going. We are frequently critised for being political, but all the issues that we take up are political, this is a key organisation in the campaigning sector, where we have many key issues :- NHS, the world we live in, zero hour contracts, keep toilets open, campainging for bus stops, austerity britain, childcare costs, and against the government condemning charity campaigning (gagging law) this will kill of many campaigning groups in the future. 38 Degrees is an online campaigning group and needs to be listened to, we do have the power in our hands, older people are an important part of the system, we care about older people issues. The elderly have considerable clout when used properly. This Parliament is trying to gag 38 Degrees, the amount of money that we are now allowed to spend has been reduced by 2/3 thirds. 38 degrees will finish up spending monety on lawyers fees. The forth speaker: - We were addressed by Samantha Niclew from Age (UK)) Sam is the campaigning officer, she said that social care is not so well known or understood, the lack of awareness can keep you unaware of this valuable asset of the NHS. This is a life line, it does not cost much, as it is so cheap, you would think that the government would grab it with both hands and take it on, but this government has taken with one hand and given less back , no help for the infirm , some have even been pushed out of the care scheme system, not enough funding from government, older people care for others with love. Unfunded care is hurting older vulnerable pensioners, Age UK will campaign before the election next May, social care has been overlooked for too long, we urgently need a well thought out care service with a positive message, NPC will support this campaign in the run up to the next General Election in 2015. There is currently no care provision for the carers, thay are not given time to care properly for the people that they are meant to help, their training and working conditions are very inadequate. The fifth speaker: - This was Jim Donovan, President of an Australian Trade Union. In Australia there is not one difference between their system and ours, in the way that the money is spent on older people, they take the money from the poor and give it to the rich. They have taken millions of Dollars out of the care services and pensions are at risk, but the rich are left unaffected. They take away all that we have fought for over the years, the powers to be do not care, you are not here to be beaten and have governments take away conditions that have been fought for over our working lives, and they are not to get it now that we are retired. The sixth and final speaker for this session: - This was Owen Jones a Guardian columnist, he started by saying he can feel an army of pensioners that should make the government shudder, we are not a walk over, a sacred heritage the NHS, it was a gift made to the next generation, it is not the young against the old, it is the rich against the poor, the top against the bottom, it is a slash and burn against our NHS, it is an attack on all that our parents and grandparents have achieved. We need to have faith in the future and the care service. The future is debt and insecurity on the ones who are not the children of the rich, we need solidarity across the generations,”an injury to one is an injury to all”. This is the worse economical recovery since Victorian times, it was the bankers that put us into this mess, they want to dismantle our NHS and hand it over to the foreign rich, it is an insult of our union system and they need to increase the growth of privatisation in the NHS. Millions of people are now reliant on Food banks, loan sharks, how do you build a life? The “bedroom tax, which is intended to put people into smaller homes that do not exist , there is so much fear out there, but what really is missing is “hope”. It is a political “divide and rule”. Workers need a living wage, councils need to be able to build social housing, but what about those at the top, who do not pay tax IE Amazon, Wall Mart, Starbucks and many of our footballers and show business stars etc.