SINN Féin MP Elisha McCallion has condemned the decision by the Tory Government to increase the State Pension Age seven years earlier than planned.
The Foyle MP was commenting after it was announced that the pension age increase to 68 will now be phased in between 2037 and 2039, rather than from 2044 as was originally proposed.
”This will undoubtedly lead to increased rates of poverty,” she said.
“The Tories are yet again targeting people who are already struggling due to their austerity driven agenda.
“For many people, the stark reality is that the state pension age will now be higher than healthy life expectancy.
“It is also particularly cynical that they delayed making this announcement until after the election when they had originally been due to make their intentions known in May.”
Ms. McCallion also criticised the DUP for supporting for agreeing to prop up Theresa May’s government.
She said: “The DUP represent a region that has the lowest life expectancy in these islands so today’s announcement again exposes the folly of them giving the Tories a blank cheque to continue their destructive austerity policies.”
