Age UK have passed their verdict on how the three main parties’ manifestos tackle the key issues affecting older people.

Conservatives – 5/18

The Tories' manifesto was said to be 'silent' on challenges of an ageing society. Michelle Mitchell‚ Age UK Charity Director said:

“Older people will be surprised to find the Conservatives have remained silent about the specific issues concerning older voters and shied away from tackling the challenges of an ageing society. There’s much in their manifesto to encourage fit‚ active and engaged older people to contribute to society‚ but little new support for those who need help and protection.

“Voluntary insurance to pay for care at home‚ the possibility of abolishing the Default Retirement Age and the protection of existing age-related entitlements are modest steps forward. The Tories’ manifesto fails to address the big challenges facing our ageing society on care‚ health‚ poverty and warm homes.

“The Conservatives today scored 5 out of 18 for progress against the key priorities outlined in Age UK’s election manifesto.”

Liberal Democrats – 6/18

In response to the Liberal Democrats manifesto published today‚ Michelle Mitchell elt that “the Liberal Democrats have got to grips with many of the problems people in later life experience with innovative and thoughtful policies”.

“But,”  she goes on to say, “this positive work is undermined by the party’s failure to provide any concrete proposals on how they will tackle social care – the biggest social policy issue for the next parliament.

“Creating an Independent Commission without a clear statement on policy direction will do little more than delay facing up to the challenge of fixing the crumbling care system. The only firm proposal on the table is to scrap the Personal Care at Home Bill‚ but it’s not clear what will replace it. This is a missed opportunity when older voters say social care is one of their top concerns.

“The Liberal Democrats today scored 6 out of 18 for progress against the key priorities outlined in Age UK’s election manifesto.”

Labour – 8/18

In the Labour Party’s manifesto did rather better. Michelle Mitchell‚ said: “Four new announcements on employment‚ state pensions and healthcare‚ in addition to the recent commitment to a national care service will bring considerable benefits for older people. Yet despite warm words about helping society adapt to the demographic shift‚ Labour still needs to do a lot more to turn the rhetoric into practical policies to improve later life.

“The party has missed a crucial opportunity to tell older voters how it will make progress on areas such as health‚ housing and age-friendly communities to enable older people to continue to play an active role in society. Alongside tackling social care‚ any future Government must also grasp the nettle on warm homes and pensioner poverty if they are serious about winning the grey vote.

“Labour today scored 8 out of 18 for progress against the key priorities outlined in Age UK’s election manifesto.”