WIREDGOV

Commenting on the age-related tax allowances announced in the Budget yesterday (Wednesday) TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'The Chancellor's decision to raise more than a billion extra pounds in tax from pensioners by freezing age-allowances will come back to haunt him. It's already being dubbed 'the granny tax'.

'Pretending that pensioners will be grateful because it will simplify their tax is a vain hope. Instead they will see that they are being asked to pay more while the super-rich have kept all the pensions tax relief - a heavy burden for ordinary taxpayers.

'And with ever more increases in the state pension age threatened in a new White Paper - a burden that falls more heavily on the poor, the regions and those with manual jobs - older workers and pensioners are paying a heavy price for a pro-rich Budget.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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Media enquiries:
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Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk