Sturgeon embraces the generations with pension promises

SCOTLAND’S FIRST MINISTER Nicola Sturgeon will launch the SNP manifesto today – and reaffirm a pledge she gave to local pensions campaigners she met in Moray on Monday.

Nicola Sturgeon may have been preaching to the converted when she hugged hundreds of local party supporters during her visit to Lossiemouth – but she had a message to any wavering voters that hers was a party of action and not just promises.

During the visit in support of her deputy party leader, Angus Robertson, Ms Sturgeon spoke with members of the WASPI group who are challenging the UK Government on the ‘wholly unfair’ manner in which they have realigned the pension age for men and women.

The First Minister said: “Our manifesto puts inequality at the heart of this election, whereas the Tory manifesto is an assault on pensioners. SNP voices will be voices of justice for the WASPI women and for pensioners generally.”

Indications are that the SNP manifesto will make a pledge to retain the ‘triple-lock’ on pensions that Prime Minister Theresa May has already said will lose the guaranteed 2.5% annual increase element.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Only the SNP can provide the strong opposition Scotland needs to protect our schools, hospitals and vital public services from deeper Tory cuts and further damaging austerity.

“We will set out a clear plan to end mindless Tory austerity across the UK and to invest in public services.”