27/03/10 - Conservative Candidates Support Equitable Life Campaign

Campaigners in Swindon are calling on their election candidates to sign a pledge committing them to vote for proper Government compensation for victims who lost money with Equitable Life.

Campaigning group EMAG (Equitable Members Action Group) is targeting 550 constituencies across the UK in the wake of the present Government’s failure to fully accept the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s findings of injustice and her recommendations for compensation. Victims of the Equitable Life scandal lost billions from their pensions and savings and an estimated 15 pensioners are dying every day without ever receiving justice.

The pledge reads: "I pledge to the voters of this constituency@that if I am elected to Parliament at the next general election, I will support and vote for proper compensation for victims of the Equitable Life scandal and I will support and vote to set up@a swift, simple, transparent and fair payment scheme – independent of government@–@as recommended by the Parliamentary Ombudsman."

Swindon Candidates who have so far committed to the Pledge are Justin Tomlinson and Robert Buckland, both Conservatives.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Candidate commented "As David Cameron said only last month, a Conservative government will resolve this terrible situation as quickly as possible. I agree with him that Labour’s delays on this issue have been frankly, sick. It seems as if the government is waiting for people to die. If we win the election, we’ll be tackling this issue early on, and I hope to be in Parliament so I can speak up for the Equitable Life victims of Swindon"

Local EMAG members, Alan Akenhead and Dr. David Hull confirmed that they intend to ensure that candidates of the main parties in the Swindon constituencies fully understand that EMAG wants proper compensation from the Government. Thousands of people in Swindon have had their retirement dreams shattered by this scandal and it is time the Government respected the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Nationwide as many as 1.5 million have been affected by the scandal, in some cases losing more than 50% of their retirement income or savings directly as a result. After a lifetime of hard work, some people have had to sell their homes to survive and I have heard many heartbreaking stories of the effect it has had on the hopes and dreams of the victims,. "A few thousand votes in marginal constituencies could turn the tide and force whichever Government is elected to finally do the decent thing."

EMAG was successful in a High Court challenge last year which has forced the Treasury to expand the terms of its intended "ex-gratia" payment scheme, but campaigners warn that the process is slow, not independent and still has no guarantee that it will be either fair or adequate.

Alan Akenhead and David Hull agreed "Enough is enough –we want compensation before many more Equitable pensioners die, waiting for justice. If we don’t win this battle, no [pensioner in Britain is safe."

More information on EMAG can be found at www.emagregional.org.uk