Rowen Guest Speaker at Pensioner's Parliament

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th Jun 2009

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has called on the Government to start "treating our pensioners with the respect they deserve." Paul, who is the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Works and Pensions, was speaking out at the 11th Annual Pensioner's Parliament held this week in Blackpool.

Over 2000 pensioners attended the gathering where they had to chance to quiz MPs about the issues that concern them. Other guest speakers included Pensions Minister Rosie Winterton MP and Conservative Shadow Minister for Older People Nigel Waterson MP.

Paul Rowen MP said: "It was a real pleasure to be asked to speak at this year's event. Many of the people I spoke to were understandably angry at the pitful amount of State Pension they receive. The elderly in our society have contributed the most and they should be treated with respect, not consigned to scraping together the pennies.

Paul Continued: "The current pension system is unfair. The basic state of pension is too low and it discriminates against women and carers who take time out of work. There are still far too many pensioners living in poverty. The Government should restore the earnings link to the state pension so that pensioners share in the growth of wealth of the nation."

Hundreds of Pensioners used the event to demonstrate their anger over the MP's expenses scandal.

Paul added: "Pensioners have every right to feel angry and let down by the way a small minority of MPs have abused the system, especially when many of them have been left, by our Government, struggling to pay their heating bills. It was clear to me that the majority of pensioners were not satisfied with the way they are being treated by our Government. The Government has to seriously look at making the changes that will see more money going into the pockets of our pensioners.