The Savings Vote? Pensions and the 2015 election

A public debate reviewing the Coalition’s performance on pensions, and examining what is required of the next government.

Twitter hashtag: #vote2015pensions

Speakers at this event will include:

• Dr Yvonne Braun, Head of Savings, Retirement and Social Care, ABI
• Jane Vass, Head of Policy, Age UK
• Mel Duffield, Deputy Director, Pensions Policy Institute
• Tom McPhail, Head of Pensions Research, Hargreaves Lansdown
• Graham Vidler, Director of External Affairs, NAPF
• Chair: James Lloyd, Director, Strategic Society Centre

The Coalition Government has proved unexpectedly transformative for UK pensions policy: auto-enrolment; the ‘triple-lock’; Single-Tier; small-pots; DA; AMCs; CDC; and, the scrapping of the ‘annuities deal’ for DC pension savings.

However, six months from the 2015 election, fundamental questions surround UK pensions policy.

Politicians increasingly query the future of income tax-relief on pension savings. Annuities have never been more maligned, raising questions around the whole notion and future of private pension incomes. It is also unclear that political consensus around both ‘Single-Tier’ and ‘triple-lock’ changes to the State Pension will survive a new parliament set to be characterised by severe public spending cuts and NHS pressures.

With less than six months until the 2015 general election, this public debate will review the Coalition’s performance on pensions and examine what is required of the next government. It will explore:

• Coalition – will the government’s wide-ranging reforms to pensions policy ultimately lead to higher contributions and higher retirement incomes? Which reforms will be most talked about 10 years from now?
• Strategy - does the UK still have a clear, broad-based strategic vision for pension saving and retirement income?
• Policymaking - has the consensual, non-political approach usually demanded of pensions policymaking been observable during the Coalition? If not, can it be revived?
• Manifestos - what commitments are needed from the 2015 election manifestos across state and private pensions to ensure a decent retirement income for workers in future?

This event is free and open to all; however, registration is required.

The event will be held under the Chatham House rule.